Australian-born star Ryan Williams ditches passport to join India's national team and make debut vs Bangladesh

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In a move that could signal a new era for Indian football, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has added Ryan Williams and Abneet Bharti to the national camp ahead of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on November 18. The camp, which began in Bengaluru on Thursday, will see both players join soon, pending clearance. If successful, they will be part of the squad for the highly anticipated fixture. Ryan Williams, a 31-year-old midfielder, was born in Perth but has strong family ties to India. His mother was born into an Anglo-Indian family in Mumbai, and his twin brother Aryn has played for Indian clubs. Williams has previously represented Australia U-20 and U-23 teams, as well as English sides Fulham and Portsmouth, before joining Bengaluru FC in 2023. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Williams revealed that he had given up his Australian passport to take up Indian citizenship, saying, 'Honoured to make official what's long felt true. Grateful for the love, the opportunity, and the sense of belonging this country has given me.' AIFF chief Kalyan Chaubey credited national team captain Sunil Chhetri for bringing Williams to their attention. Abneet Bharti, a 27-year-old defender, is an Indian citizen based in Brazil, where he plays for Academia del Balompié Boliviano. The AIFF discovered Bharti through the Indian embassy in Brazil and invited him to join the national camp, according to Chaubey. The development is seen as a significant boost for Indian football, and fans are eagerly awaiting the duo's debut against Bangladesh. With their inclusion, the national team looks stronger and more diverse, and it will be exciting to see how they perform on the field.