Indian football team lands in Dhaka

Bangla Press Desk:   The India national football team arrived in Dhaka Saturday ahead of their Asian Cup 2027 qualifying match against Bangladesh on 18 November. The 23-member squad landed this evening at 5:15 PM and is scheduled to hold a closed-door training session on Sunday.

A major talking point in India’s squad is Australian-born forward Ryan Williams. The 32-year-old striker, who played one match for Australia in 2019, recently obtained Indian citizenship. Head coach Khalid Jamil has included him in the squad for the Bangladesh trip.

Though Williams still requires approval from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) before officially representing India. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is yet to secure a no-objection certificate from Football Australia.

Williams has been playing in India since 2023, featuring for Bengaluru FC, but his participation in the upcoming match remains uncertain.

Bangladesh will face India for the fifth match of the Asian Cup qualifiers this Tuesday. The two teams previously met in March this year, ending in a goalless draw.

BP/SP