The Williams brothers, and their journey to the FIFA World Cup

Nico Williams, who is a part of Spain’s national team at the 2022 FIFA World cup, has just been part of a 7-0 victory over Costa Rica. However, the match he is eager to play is against Ghana, as the squad incudes includes none other than his brother Inaki Williams. The sibling rivalry has stayed strong between the players over the years, who are a part of Athletico Bilbao, but are representing different nations at the World Cup.

The brothers were born to parents originally from Ghana, who had migrated to Spain due to the Liberian Civil War. The journey had entailed considerable suffering for the parents, which has both hardened and shaped both brothers. It had included traversing 4900 km across the Sahara Desert, at temperatures above 50 degrees centigrade, while the mother Maria Arthuer was pregnant with Inaki.

On crossing across to Melilla, the Williams’ parents had been detained by the civil guard due to the absence of papers. On realizing that they are from a war-torn nation, they were finally granted political asylum in Bilbao.

 Inaki has been a star player for Bilbao, known for his fitness and skill both. Having played a record-making 236 consecutive matches for the club over six seasons, Inaki missed a game for the first time in August after spraining a ligament. In fact, he remains one of Bilbao’s most consistent performers with a total of 286 appearances, 80 goals and 48 assists.

However, despite his record, Inaki has almost never represented Spain, with only one appearance in a World Cup friendly in 2016. The younger Williams brother, Nico, has however had a more straightforward journey from the U18s, to the U20s and subsequently the national team, in a few years.

 Inaki was finally offered a position on Ghana’s national side, which he initially refused, having been born and raised in Spain. However, a trip back to his home nation with his family, which included a reunion with his grandfather who expressed a desire to see Inaki in the Ghana jersey, helped the player to change his mind. The players are now set to represent two different nations, the one they were born in, and the one that is in their “blood”.