 "Ryan Williams receives NOC from Football Australia but will still miss out against Bangladesh. Image: Insta-Ryan/AIFF")
Ryan Williams has finally received his No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Football Australia, but he still won’t be playing for India against Bangladesh in Dhaka today. Williams, who recently sacrificed his Australian citizenship to play for India , will have to wait longer to make his debut for the Blue Tigers.
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India head coach Khalid Jamil had earlier named his 23-member squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers match against Bangladesh. Williams ’ name created a lot of excitement among fans because the former Australia international recently switched his allegiance to India after completing all his eligibility requirements.
Why Ryan Williams may not make his debut for India today?
According to Times of India journalist Marcus Mergulhao, the winger needs approval from FIFA before he can be officially registered as an Indian player. Also, the matchday squad had to be submitted by 11:59 pm on the previous night, and since the approval didn’t come in time, he cannot be included today.
“Ryan Williams has received his NOC from Football Australia but will not be part of the India squad against Bangladesh today. Ryan needs approval from FIFA before registration. Also, match day squads need to be completed on match day minus one, which is 11:59pm last night,” Marcus wrote on social media.
The Bengaluru FC forward was even included in Khalid Jamil’s squad list, which made many expect that he could debut immediately. But Williams is still waiting for the final clearance on his international transfer. Although the NOC from Football Australia has come through, he still needs approvals from both FIFA and the AFC.
The AIFF also confirmed this situation earlier. In a statement, they said: “While forward Ryan Williams, who recently obtained an Indian passport, will travel to Bangladesh, his inclusion in the matchday squad is subject to the receipt of a No Objection Certificate from Football Australia and the subsequent approvals from FIFA and AFC.”
Only after these final steps are completed, Ryan Williams can officially represent India in an international match. Meanwhile, the match against Bangladesh has no significance to India after their loss to Singapore at home knocked them out of the AFC Asian Cup qualification race.