Overview
- Ryan Williams has received an Indian passport after surrendering his Australian citizenship, with Sunil Chhetri publicly handing over the document at Bengaluru FC.
- The federation says it is awaiting a no‑objection certificate from Football Australia before officially confirming Williams for the match squad.
- Kathmandu-born defender Abneet Bharti, an Indian passport holder currently with Bolivia’s ABB on loan from FK Varnsdorf, has joined the Bengaluru camp on a trial basis.
- FIFA eligibility rules allow Williams to switch because his only Australia cap was a 2019 friendly, and Indian law required him to relinquish dual citizenship to represent India.
- AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey credited Chhetri and the Sports Ministry for expediting paperwork and said the federation will actively recruit more Indian passport holders playing abroad.