Ryan Dale Williams is turning out Indian football’s new hope after the Australian-turned-Indian gave the Blue Tigers a surprise lead in the first half of their FIFA Friendly against Panama at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.
India are ranked 94 places below Panama at 138th.
Ranked 44th in the world, Panama came into the clash after their show at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada. With 14 players from the World Cup squad, the CONCACAF side were left frustrated by the Indian defence in front of handful of spectators in Bengaluru.
Having failed thrice to keep his shot on the goal, Williams made sure he was fourth time lucky just five minutes from the half-time with Akash Mishra providing the assist. The Mumbai City FC footballer throws the ball to Bijoy Vargese, who plays it again to Akash.
The 24-year-old sends in a long ball from the left for Williams, who ran behind Panama’s defence in front of Jones Cordoba Joseph Edward and Victor Mullins. Williams kept the ball on the far post and shot past Panama goalkeeper Marcos Reyes to give India the lead.
All you need to know about Ryan Williams
Williams became the second overseas footballer to give his birth country passport and represent Indian football team. He was born in Subiaco, Perth in 1993 to mother Audrey (from an Anglo-Indian family in Mumbai) and father Eric, who hails from the United Kingdom.
With Indian law prohibiting dual citizenship, Williams had to give up his Australian passport as the national sports policy requires only full citizens to represent the country. Even the OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) and PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) athletes also have to formally renounce their foreign passports before they can become eligible to play for India.
In the process, Williams became the second footballer after Japanese-born Arata Izumi to represent his mother’s country. Izumi played nine international matches for India from 2013 and 2014.
Following the retirement of Sunil Chhetri, the Indian football team needed an experienced leader in front of the goal, with Williams offering what the national team needed. The Australian forward started on an explosive note with his first goal for India in just four minutes on debut.
Williams found the back of the net against Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers in Kochi in the fourth minute – the fastest goal ever on debut for India. In fact, Williams’ maternal grandfather Linky Grostate was a part of the erstwhile Bombay team that defeated then-mighty Bengal in the 1956 Santosh Trophy semifinals.