The Georgia national football team () represents Georgia in men's international football matches, and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Georgia. It is a member of UEFA in Europe and FIFA in global competitions.
The Georgian team's first match took place on 27 May 1990 against Lithuania, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major tournament from Euro 1996 onwards. Their efforts culminated in their first successful qualification for a major tournament, the UEFA Euro 2024, secured with a win against Greece in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying play-off final.
Along with Ukraine and Latvia, Georgia is one of the few post-Soviet states to qualify for the UEFA European Championship finals, though it has yet to take part in a FIFA World Cup.
The team is colloquially referred to as Jvarosnebi (The Crusaders) and has adopted Saint George as their symbol, which is a patron of Georgia.
Upon its admission into FIFA ranked 156th, Georgia ascended to their peak World Ranking of 42nd in 1998. The team plays their home games at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi.
History 20th century Football was introduced to Georgia by English sailors in early 20th century. British ships that docked at the harbors of Poti and Batumi frequently hosted football matches among their crew, attracting the attention of Lelo burti players, who quickly embraced and adapted the sport. While the exact date of the first football match in Georgia remains uncertain, football was first mentioned in the Georgian press in 1890.
From 1923 to 1990, Georgian football players were part of the USSR national team, with two of them, Murtaz Khurtsilava and Aleksandre Chivadze, serving as captains at different times. During the early Soviet era, Georgia competed in the Transcaucasian Championship, hosting the 1926 edition. Georgia's first game came against Azerbaijan in Tbilisi, losing 4–2 in Tbilisi. The Georgian SSR's first win came in their second game, beating Armenia 7–0. Georgia would later host the 1927 and 1928 editions of the Transcaucasian Championship, winning the latter edition after a 5–1 and 6–0 win over Armenia and Azerbaijan respectively. After a six-year hiatus, Georgia played in the 1934 competition in Azerbaijan, before once against hosting the 1935 Transcaucasian Championship, winning it once again.
During this period, the USSR national team included players from various Soviet republics, including Georgian SSR. Georgian players made significant contributions to the team, with several becoming key figures and achieving notable success, such as Slava Metreveli scoring in the 1960 European Nations' Cup final. One of the most famous Georgian footballers who played for the USSR national team was Murtaz Khurtsilava, who captained the team and played a crucial role in the 1966 FIFA World Cup, where the USSR finished in fourth place. Another prominent player was Vitaly Daraselia, known for his performances in the 1980s, along with David Kipiani, Ramaz Shengelia and Vladimir Gutsaev.
Following Soviet rule in Georgia, the contemporary history of the Georgia national football team began in 1990, when the team played their first international match against Lithuania, the first country to accept an invitation. The match was held on 27 May 1990 at the national stadium. Georgia were coached by Givi Nodia. The friendly match ended in a 2–2 draw. This was the only match prior to the declaration of independence on 9 April 1991. Soon afterwards the team played another friendly match against Moldova.
The Georgian Football Federation became a member of both UEFA and FIFA in 1992, enabling Georgia to play competitive matches. The first of these came in September 1994, a 1–0 defeat to Moldova as part of the qualifiers for Euro 1996. Georgia finished third in their group, ahead of Moldova, Wales and Albania, but seven points behind second-placed qualifier Bulgaria.
Georgia failed to qualify for the 1998 World Cup in France, obtaining 10 points and finishing in fourth place, level on points with Poland. At this time, Georgia reached 42nd place in the FIFA World Ranking.
21st century
During UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying the Georgia national team won one match, drew two and finished at the bottom of the group with five points.
The team finished fifth (and last) with seven points in their qualifying group for Euro 2004, although they defeated Russia with a goal scored by Malkhaz Asatiani.
In the 2006 World Cup qualifiers Georgia beat Albania 2–0 at home and Kazakhstan away 2–1. They finished sixth of seven with ten points in Group 2.
Georgia were sixth out of seven teams in the Euro 2008 qualifying group with ten points. They defeated Scotland 2–0 at home and the Faroe Islands 6–0 away and 3–1 at home.
Héctor Cúper became the manager of Georgia in August 2008. During the qualification round for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Georgia failed to win any matches and finished sixth (and last) with three points. Cuper didn't extend his contract, and on 6 November 2009, Temur Ketsbaia was appointed as the new manager of the Georgian national team. Ketsbaia resigned as manager after a 4–0 defeat at home to Poland in the Euro 2016 qualifiers on 14 November 2014, having previously stated he would do so before the match regardless of the result.
In June 2016, Georgia beat the two-time reigning European champions Spain 1–0 in their final pre-Euro 2016 friendly.
In 2018, they were the first team to earn promotion in the new UEFA Nations League. They scored the event's first goal in a UEFA Nations League D game in Kazakhstan before beating Latvia twice and Andorra, with two games still to spare and earned their first-ever playoff berth. In the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, Georgia had a disappointing run, with their only two wins came over Gibraltar. In the Path D playoff semi-final, Georgia managed to beat Belarus 1–0 and thus the hope to qualify for UEFA Euro 2020 increased, but it went in vain after the Georgians suffered a heartbreaking home defeat to North Macedonia in the decisive match and thus missed the opportunity to make a historic debut in a major competition.Georgia showed improvements with a strong 2–0 win over Sweden at the 2022 World Cup qualification on 11 November 2021. They continued their improvement by winning the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C Group 4, getting promoted to 2024-25 UEFA Nations League B, and qualified for their second-ever play-off berth. Georgia won 2–0 against Luxembourg, earning them a spot in the final of the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying play-offs. They defeated Greece 4–2 on penalties after a 0–0 draw in the playoff final, which guaranteed Georgia's qualification for their first ever international tournament at Euro 2024.
During Euro 2024, Georgia were placed in Group F; they subsequently lost 3–1 in the match against Turkey, where Georges Mikautadze scored the first-ever goal in Georgia's history in the Euros, and drew 1–1 against the Czech Republic. Their 2–0 victory against Portugal was considered one of the biggest upsets in European Championship history, and was enough to propel Georgia to the round of 16 in their first international tournament appearance. Georgia subsequently played eventual Champions Spain in the Round of 16, and lost by a score of 4–1. Georges Mikautadze finished the Euro 2024 campaign as the joint-UEFA European Football Championship Top Goalscorer.
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2025
2026
Coaching staff
Position Name Manager Ramaz Svanadze Assistant Manager Giorgi Dekanosidze Nika Kvekveskiri Coach Guram Kashia Goalkeeping Coach Davit Gvaramadze Physical Fitness Trainer Bondo Gotsiridze Analyst Irakli Chitauri Levan Zamtaradze
Coaching history As of 6 October 2026
No.ManagerGeorgia careerPlayedWonDrawnLostWin % Givi Nodia1990 Giga Norakidze1991–1992 Aleksandre Chivadze1993–1996 Vladimir Gutsaev (caretaker)1996 David Kipiani1997 Vladimir Gutsaev1998 Gigla Imnadze (caretaker)1998 Johan Boskamp1999 David Kipiani / Revaz Dzodzuashvili2000–2001 Aleksandre Chivadze2001–2003 Ivo Šušak2003 Merab Jordania2003 Gocha Tkebuchava (caretaker)2004 Alain Giresse2004–2005 Gaioz Darsadze (caretaker)2005 Klaus Toppmöller2006–2008 Petar Šegrt (caretaker)2008 Héctor Cúper2008–2009 Temur Ketsbaia2010–2014 Kakhaber Tskhadadze2014–2016 Vladimír Weiss2016–2020 Ramaz Svanadze (caretaker)2020 Willy Sagnol2021–2026 Ramaz Svanadze2026–
Players Current squad The following players were called up for the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League B matches against Northern Ireland (twice), Ukraine, and Hungary between 25 September and 5 October 2026. On September 18, Saba Kharebashvili replaced injured Irakli Azarov. On September 18, Saba Lobzhanidze and Vladimer Mamuchashvili were added to the team, replacing injured Otar Mamageishvili.
Recent call-ups The following players have been called up to the national team in the past 12 months but are not part of the current squad.
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to injury RET Player retired from the national team
Individual records
Players in bold are still active with Georgia.
Most appearances
RankPlayerCapsGoalsCareer1Guram Kashia12932009–20262Jaba Kankava101102004–20243Levan Kobiashvili100121996–20114Zurab Khizanishvili9211999–20155Kakha Kaladze8311996–20116Otar Kakabadze8102015–present7Giorgi Loria7902008–20258Giorgi Nemsadze6901992–20049Aleksandre Iashvili67151996–201110Valeri Qazaishvili62132014–2022
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioCareer1Shota Arveladze26611992–20072Georges Mikautadze23472021–presentKhvicha Kvaratskhelia23542019–present4Temur Ketsbaia17521990–20035Aleksandre Iashvili15671996–20116Tornike Okriashvili13502010–2021Valeri Qazaishvili13622014–20228Giorgi Demetradze12561996–2007Levan Kobiashvili121001996–201110Giorgi Chakvetadze10432018–presentJaba Kankava101012004–2024
Georgia records and statistics Most consecutive failed qualification attempts FIFA World Cup: 8 - 1998-present Largest blown lead to lose the match: 2 - v Lebanon, 5 December 1996 Oldest Georgia player: 39 years and 129 days - Giorgi Loria - v Faroe Islands, 5 June 2025 Youngest Georgia player: 16 years and 275 days - Saba Kharebashvili - v Faroe Islands, 5 June 2025 Georgia player sent off: - (15 times) Kakhaber Tskhadadze v Portugal, 15 November 1995 (40th minutes) Kakha Kaladze and Georgi Kinkladze v Moldova, 24 September 1997 (60th and 70th minutes) Mikhail Kavelashvili v Poland, 11 October 1997 (80th minutes) Zaza Janashia v Albania, 5 September 1998 (80th minutes) Mamuka Tsereteli v Latvia, 8 September 1999 (80th minutes) Aleksandre Rekhviashvili v Hungary, 1 September 2001 (65th minutes) Gogita Gogua v Turkey, 30 March 2005 (83rd minutes) Jaba Kankava v Italy, 11 October 2006 (60th minutes) Levan Khmaladze v Bulgaria, 14 October 2009 (56th minutes) Valerian Gvilia v Malta, 1 June 2018 (53rd minutes) Levan Shengelia v Spain, 28 March 2021 (94th minutes) Saba Kvirkvelia v Romania, 2 June 2021 (64th minutes) Irakli Azarov v Uzbekistan, 15 November 2021 (84th minutes) Giorgi Loria v Greece, 26 March 2024 (45th minutes) Longest winning streak: 5 - from 24 September 1997 to 10 February 1998 Longest unbeaten streak: 11 - from 12 October 2021 to 26 September 2022 Longest winless streak: 15 - from 6 September 2008 to 14 October 2009 Longest losing streak: 7 - (2 times) from 24 April 1996 to 8 December 1996 from 10 September 2003 to 18 August 2004 Longest streak without draw: 22 - from 7 September 1994 to 14 June 1997 Longest goalless streak: 422 minutes - from 5 June 2013 to 5 March 2014 Longest clean sheet streak: 554 minutes - from 12 October 2021 to 5 June 2022 Longest goalless streak by both teams: 200 minutes - from 29 March 2000 to 11 June 2000 Biggest wins: 8 - v Thailand, 12 October 2023