Ryan Williams, an Australian-born footballer of Indian origin, is set to make his debut for the Indian national team in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Hong Kong on March 31 in Kochi. The 31-year-old forward was included in the 23-player squad after FIFA approved his switch to represent India at the senior level. His inclusion follows the completion of necessary paperwork, which allowed him to join the team for the match. Williams had previously participated in the preparatory camp for the Bangladesh qualifier but was not selected due to pending administrative procedures. Born in Perth, Australia, in 1993, Williams began his professional career in England with Portsmouth FC in 2010. He made his senior debut for the club a year later against Middlesbrough FC and later played for Fulham FC and Barnsley FC. At the international level, he represented Australia in youth tournaments, including the AFC U-19 Championship in 2012 and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2013. His only senior appearance for Australia came in a 2019 friendly against South Korea, which was a non-competitive match. This allowed him to switch allegiance under FIFA rules, as he gave up his Australian passport last year to be eligible for India. Williams, whose mother is from an Anglo-Indian family in Mumbai, will become the second foreign-born player of Indian origin to represent the country after Arata Izumi, who played for India between 2013 and 2014. Currently with Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL), he is set to join the Indian squad for the qualifier. India, already out of contention for qualification, aims to end their campaign on a positive note by combining experienced players with younger talents. The Indian team began their camp in Kochi on Tuesday, with 20 players and staff assembling.#india #kochi #bengaluru_fc #ryan_williams #afc_asian_cup_2027
