India Bring New Citizen Ryan Williams to Dhaka—Before FIFA’s Approval!

India will arrive in Dhaka with a major new face in their squad — Australia-born forward Ryan Williams, recently granted Indian citizenship. The 32-year-old has been named in India’s 23-man squad for their Asian Cup qualifying fixture against Bangladesh on 18 November, despite the fact that he has not yet received the mandatory clearance from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.

Williams, who grew up in Australia and even represented the Socceroos once in 2019, is part of a new initiative by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) aimed at integrating foreign-born players of Indian heritage into the national team setup. He has been playing in India since 2023 for Bengaluru FC, where consistent performances have made him a strong contender for the national side.

According to Indian media, Williams has only recently obtained his Indian passport. However, AIFF still awaits an official No Objection Certificate from Football Australia, along with regulatory approval from both FIFA and AFC. Until then, his participation in the Bangladesh match remains uncertain, although his inclusion itself signals India’s evolving approach to talent acquisition.

India and Bangladesh will meet on Tuesday at the Dhaka National Stadium in what will be the fifth round of their Asian Cup qualifying campaign. The previous meeting between the two sides in March ended in a goalless draw. That match marked the Bangladesh debut of Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury, while India’s legendary striker Sunil Chhetri returned from retirement to feature. The 41-year-old has not been included this time.