As India prepares to take on Hong Kong in an Asian Cup qualifying dead rubber, all eyes are on a player born in Perth who has actually been capped by the Socceroos.
32-year-old winger Ryan Williams is set to make his debut for the World No. 140 after giving up his Australian passport to change his allegiance.
Williams, who has had stints with Fulham, Portsmouth and Perth Glory, pulled on the green and gold at Under-20 and Under-23 level, before playing once for the Socceroos in a 1-0 loss to South Korea in an international friendly back in 2019.
Since 2023, he has played his club football in India and has undergone a lengthy process to be able to represent the national team.
The winger was set to feature against Bangladesh in November, but his clearance from FIFA arrived just hours too late for him to make his debut.
“Since we got the clearance, all I’ve been thinking about is March 31,” he told the Indian Football Federation’s official channels.
“… (It’s) a big sense of relief because it was not a short process to put it lightly. So to finally get it all over the line and to be here, to put this jersey on, even if it is the training kit – it was really, really special and I’m really excited for what’s to come. I think it’s really cool.
“It’s something really special… my grandfather had played in the Santosh Trophy, gone away and then for his grandson to come back and finally, be in Indian camp and hopefully, play some games for India is like a full circle moment, to be honest.
“Something that’s really special and one that my family is very proud of, obviously not just me, but you know, everything that’s gone into it.”
Williams is being hailed in India, emerging as a ray of light in a difficult period for the sport.
He became just the second overseas-born player, Arata Izumi was the first in 2013, to pick up an Indian passport.
“A lot of people told me this is not possible,” he said. “Me being a bit stubborn, I didn’t really take much notice.”
“The faith was always there, the hope was always there. Finally do it is really special and to be here now is a bit of a pinch me moment to be honest, just really happy we got it over the line.
“I was nervous coming in, I’m not gonna lie, because how is everybody going to receive me… I’ve played against these guys before so there is a slight relationship there we know of each other, but it’s been really good each day you know having chats with different players and connecting more, which is obviously good for us on the pitch and off the pitch.
“So they’ve been really welcoming and I can’t be more thankful to them.”
According to ESPN, India will be looking to Williams to lead their attack. He has taken the No. 11 and “will be the one to take over the burden from Sunil Chhetri, literally and figuratively,” writes Aaditya Narayan.
Chhetri, now 41 and retired from international duty, is India’s biggest football legend, scoring a record 95 goals in 157 caps for the national team. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Iran icon Ali Daei have more goals in international men’s football.
Chhetri and Williams are teammates at Bengaluru FC and have played together 47 times for the club.
“It’s been a bit overwhelming to be honest. I’m not really one for the limelight,” Williams said.
“So it has been different, but it’s been good because everything, all the messages I’ve got have been of pride, know, thankful to me for, you know, doing what I have to be able to represent India and the long-term goal for me is to hopefully encourage others to do the same thing.”
He added: “India is a very patriotic country. They just want to see the country do well and go and make things happen and challenge these bigger teams. So again, just a massive, massive thank you for all their support and their well-wishes.”
India take on Hong Kong at 12:30am AEDT on Wednesday morning.
