The Indian senior national football team is set to include Ryan Williams, a forward born in Australia, for the AFC Asian Cup qualifying round. Williams plays for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League.
If he receives a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Australia, Williams can switch his citizenship from Australia to Indian. This would allow him to play in the crucial qualifying match against Bangladesh on November 18.
Ryan Williams has a strong connection to India. His grandfather, Lincoln Grostate, played for the Western India Football Association in the 1950s. Williams has had a football career in both the UK and Australia, notably winning the English Football League Trophy with Barnsley in 2016. Since joining Bengaluru FC in 2023, he has scored 13 goals and made 5 assists in 46 matches, becoming a strong option alongside Indian captain Sunil Chhetri.
This development marks a new chapter for Indian football. While discussions are ongoing about PIO/OCI players, the willingness of foreign-born players to give up other passports to represent India will encourage the growth of Indian football.