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Ryan Williams is finally set to debut for India after FIFA clearance, with the Australian-born winger named in the squad for the AFC Asian Cup qualifier vs Hong Kong.
Ryan Williams is set to make his debut for India (AIFF Media)
It’s been a long time coming, but Ryan Williams is finally on the brink of wearing India blue.
The Australian-born winger has been named in a 23-member squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers clash against Hong Kong on March 31 in Kochi.
And this time, there are no administrative hurdles in his way.
After months of waiting, FIFA has officially cleared Williams’ change of association, paving the way for the 31-year-old to represent the India national football team at senior level. He had previously trained with the squad ahead of the Bangladesh fixture but was forced to sit out due to pending paperwork.
That chapter is now closed.
A Long Road to Blue
Williams’ journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. Born in Perth to an Anglo-Indian mother from Mumbai, he made the significant decision to relinquish his Australian passport last year, a necessary step to complete his international switch.
He will now become only the second foreign-born player of Indian origin to represent the national team, following Arata Izumi.
On the club front, Williams brings a wealth of experience. He started out at Portsmouth FC before spells with Fulham FC and Barnsley FC, and now plies his trade with Bengaluru FC in the ISL.
Internationally, he represented Australia at youth level and made a senior appearance in a 2019 friendly against South Korea, a detail that ultimately allowed his switch under FIFA rules.
Building for What’s Next
India may already be out of contention for qualification, but the focus has shifted to building for the future under head coach Khalid Jamil.
“This is a good opportunity for us to build for the future,” Jamil said.
“We have a lot of promising players coming through… Our assistant coach Mahesh is himself leading the U20s, which will help us familiarise them with the system.”
(with PTI inputs)
March 24, 2026, 17:03 IST
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