Spain head into Saturday’s clash with Georgia knowing a single win might be all they need to stamp their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with one match to spare. sitting firmly at the top of Group E with 12 points from four games, three clear of Turkey, while Georgia sits third, hanging on to a slim mathematical chance that still requires almost everything to go their way. The Spain manager expects a complicated match, as the national team posted this statement via their official X account.
View the post below:
For Georgia, they’ve managed only three points so far, their lone victory coming against Bulgaria in September. Back-to-back defeats to Spain and Turkey in October didn’t help either, and now they must somehow beat Spain and Bulgaria, then hope Turkey collapses completely. It’s the kind of scenario that looks good only on paper.
Spain, meanwhile, has been nothing short of ruthless. Four wins, 12 points, zero goals conceded. Luis de la Fuente’s side have looked like a team that knows exactly where they’re going. If they beat Georgia, only a miracle would deny them qualification, . Even a draw might be enough if results elsewhere swing their way, but Spain don’t seem like a team in the mood for half-measures.
Team News
Georgia will be without Otar Kakabadze and top striker Georges Mikautadze. Giorgi Kvilitaia and Budu Zivzivadze are expected to step in upfront, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was instrumental in PSG’s 3–2 victory over Lyon, remains the team’s main spark and probably their only real hope of causing an upset. Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili starts as usual, and veteran Guram Kashia is set for a landmark 127th cap.
Spain arrive with their own injury headaches. Lamine Yamal is unavailable after a minor groin procedure; as Softfootball understands, Barcelona reportedly didn’t fully communicate this with the Spanish national team, while Rodri, Pedri, and Nico Williams are also missing. Still, the squad is stacked. Ferran Torres likely leads the line, supported by Mikel Oyarzabal and Alex Baena. Arsenal pair Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi should control midfield.
Possible Lineups
Georgia:
Mamardashvili; Kakabadze, Kashia, Goglichidze, Gocholeishvili; Kiteishvili, Mekvabishvili, Kochorashvili; Zivzivadze, Mikautadze, Kvaratskhelia
Spain:
Simon; Porro, Le Normand, Cubarsi, Cucurella; Merino, Zubimendi, Baena; Oyarzabal, F. Torres, Baena
Softfootball’s Prediction
Prediction: Georgia 1–3 Spain
