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Indian-origin footballers Williams and Bharti to attend India’s national team camp
Both players bring valuable experience to India’s national setup.
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Pranavi Sharma - Thu, 06, Nov 2025
- 23:00 EST
- 18
Former Australian winger Ryan Williams and Nepal-born defender Abneet Bharti. / Instagram
Former Australian winger Ryan Williams and Nepal-born defender Abneet Bharti have been called up to the senior men’s Indian national football team camp in Bengaluru this month, ahead of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh, ESPN reported.
According to All India Football Federation (AIFF) sources cited by ESPN, Williams’ inclusion is still pending final clearances. The federation is awaiting a no-objection certificate from Football Australia, his previous home federation, before making the official announcement. The process is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
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Williams, who has represented Australia once, in a 2019 match against South Korea, joined Bengaluru FC in 2023 after leaving Perth Glory. ESPN confirmed that he has been in the process of acquiring his Indian passport for more than a year, having relocated his family to Bengaluru.
Because India does not allow dual citizenship, Williams had to renounce his Australian passport to be eligible for the national team. His mother, born into an Anglo-Indian family in Mumbai, provides the connection that qualifies him for Indian citizenship. Williams’ twin brother, Aryn, who also played briefly in India for NEROCA FC, had earlier spoken about his desire to represent India in a 2017 interview with the New Indian Express. His plans were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As for Abneet Bharti, AIFF sources told ESPN that he has been called up on trial, with his place in the squad to be determined based on his performances in the Bengaluru camp.
Bharti, eligible to represent both Nepal and India, currently plays for Academia del Balompié Boliviano in Bolivia, on loan from Czech club FK Varnsdorf. His football journey has taken him far from South Asia; he began his career abroad at age 14, when he joined Geylang International’s academy in Singapore in 2012.
According to ESPN, both players bring valuable experience to India’s national setup. Williams is noted for his pace and finishing ability, while Bharti’s defensive range could strengthen India’s backline.
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