Australian Footballers Join Indian National Team for AFC Qualifier

In a significant development for Indian football, two foreign-born players, Ryan Williams and Abneet Bharti, have officially joined the Indian men’s national football team ahead of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on November 18. This move reflects a changing landscape in Indian football, which is increasingly open to recruiting overseas-based players with Indian roots.

Williams, a 32-year-old winger born in Perth, has renounced his Australian citizenship to obtain Indian nationality. He has previously represented Australia at various levels, including the U-20 and U-23 teams, and last played for the senior team in 2019. Bharti, a 27-year-old centre-back from Kathmandu, has prior experience with India’s junior teams after stepping away from Nepalese football.

Historic Switch and Family Legacy

Williams expressed his excitement on social media, stating, “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. India, I’m one of your own!” His family connection to India runs deep; his mother is from an Anglo-Indian family in Mumbai, and his grandfather, Lincoln Grostate, represented Bombay in the Santosh Trophy during the 1950s. Football is a family affair; his twin brother, Aryn Williams, played in India’s I-League for NEROCA FC in 2018, and Ryan later joined Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League.

According to Kalyan Chaubey, President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the process for Williams’ naturalisation began earlier this year after Indian captain Sunil Chhetri informed the federation of Williams’ interest. Chaubey noted, “From then on, the process started,” highlighting the federation’s commitment to strengthening the national side.

New Opportunities for Indian Football

The inclusion of Williams and Bharti signifies a potential turning point in Indian football, possibly encouraging other players of Indian origin abroad to consider similar paths. The AIFF aims to actively identify and engage with Indian passport holders playing overseas, as Chaubey stated, “We will try to reach out to football-playing nations where Indian passport holders are active. Through media and other platforms, we invite them to connect with us to build a stronger national team.”

This initiative comes at a crucial juncture for Indian football, which faces a shortage of quality homegrown attackers, a challenge that contributed to the national team’s failure to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup. The experience and skills that Williams brings are expected to add depth to Coach Khalid Jamil‘s squad.

The decision made by Williams mirrors that of Arata Izumi, a Japan-born footballer of Gujarati descent, who became the first foreign-born player to represent India after acquiring citizenship in 2012. Izumi played nine matches for India between 2013 and 2014, paving the way for others to follow.

Under the Land Transport Act 1998, only Indian citizens are eligible to represent the country internationally, as India does not permit dual citizenship. The AIFF continues to advocate for a more inclusive approach to player recruitment, akin to other footballing nations that have successfully integrated foreign-born players.

With the addition of Williams and Bharti, Indian football embraces a more global identity, valuing heritage, opportunity, and a commitment to the future of the Blue Tigers. This evolving landscape may inspire a new generation of players to contribute to India’s footballing ambitions on the international stage.