Tbilisi: Spain traveled to Tbilisi to face Georgia in their penultimate Group E fixture, needing one more victory to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Luis de la Fuente’s team has dominated the group with an impeccable campaign that highlights their superiority. Meanwhile, Georgia, eager to impress in front of a passionate home crowd at Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, continues to hold faint hopes of reaching the playoffs.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Spain has gone through the qualification phase flawlessly, achieving four wins from four matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding none. This defensive perfection has placed them comfortably at the top of Group E with 12 points-three points ahead of Trkiye. A victory here would effectively secure their passage to the finals.
Georgia, under the leadership of Willy Sagnol, currently sits third with three points. The Crusaders managed to defeat Bulgaria 3-0 at home in September, but losses to Spain and Trkiye in October have left them hoping for improbable outcomes: two wins from their remaining fixtures and a slip-up from Trkiye.
Georgia generated excitement during Euro 2024, reaching the round of 16 before being eliminated by Spain. Their only victory over La Roja occurred during a friendly match in June 2016, with Spain winning eight of the nine encounters since then. As reigning European champions, Spain has been a formidable force since lifting the continental title in July 2024, continuing to combine youth and authority brilliantly.
Team news indicates that Georgia will be missing Georges Mikautadze and Otar Kakabadze through injury, which is a major blow given Mikautadze’s record of 21 goals in 41 caps. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, their talismanic Paris Saint-Germain winger, will shoulder the creative burden yet again, supported by Giorgi Kvilitaia and Budu Zivzivadze in attack. Guram Kashia is poised for his 127th national appearance, and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili remains central at the back.
Spain, meanwhile, is without several high-profile names. Lamine Yamal withdrew following minor groin surgery, while Rodri, Pedri, and Nico Williams are all injured. Despite those absences, De la Fuente’s options remain elite: Ferran Torres leads the line flanked by Mikel Oyarzabal and lex Baena, while Arsenal duo Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi continue in central roles.
Georgia’s predicted lineup is a 5-3-2 formation, while Spain is expected to play in a 4-3-3 setup. Recent form sees Georgia coming into this fixture with mixed results, having drawn 1-1 against Cape Verde before losing heavily to Trkiye (4-1) and Spain (2-0). Their only victory in the section was the emphatic 3-0 success over Bulgaria.
Conversely, Spain has enjoyed relentless success: a 2-0 win over Georgia, a 4-0 triumph against Bulgaria, and previous six-goal routs of Trkiye and solid displays versus Portugal and Belgium in friendlies. Head-to-head, Spain has claimed victory in all five of the last meetings between the nations, including a 2-0 success in October 2025. Georgia’s solitary win remains the 2016 friendly. La Roja boasts a +15 goal difference across these contests, reinforcing their historic dominance.
Key statistics show that Spain has a significant edge in both defensive and offensive metrics. With an unbeaten record, they aim to seal their qualification with another victory. Meanwhile, Georgia hopes to leverage their passionate home support to challenge the European champions.