Preview:Georgia vs Turkey - prediction, team news, lineups

Potentially just six matches away from reaching the 2026 World Cup, Georgia and Turkey commence their UEFA Group E qualifying campaigns on Thursday night in Tbilisi.

Jvarosnebi have enjoyed a positive start to their international schedule in 2025, whereas the Crescent-Stars suffered a recent setback after a promising spell of results.

Match preview

After qualifying for their first-ever major tournament - in which they were knocked out by eventual Euro 2024 winners Spain in the round of 16 - Georgia are set to commence their quest to appear at a FIFA World Cup for the first time in their history.

Jvarosnebi were most recently in action during the June international window for a pair of friendlies, with Thursday night's hosts at Dinamo Arena beating the Faroe Islands 1-0 before sharing the spoils with Cape Verde of CONCACAF three days later.

Willy Sagnol's troops were exceptionally successful in their only competitive matches of the calendar year to date, smashing Armenia twice in March to win a UEFA Nations League playoff 9-1 on aggregate, securing a spot in League B of the 2026-27 edition.

In the midst of a four-game unbeaten run across all competitions, Georgia have to cast their minds back to November 2024 for their most recent defeat at Andruv Stadion, where first-half goals from Pavel Sulc and Adam Hlozek ensured success for the Czech Republic in the Nations League.

Focusing purely on friendly fixtures, Jvarosnebi are enjoying a five-game sequence without defeat, a run which dates all the way back to March 2023 and includes a 6-1 demolition of Mongolia, as well as an eight-goal thrashing of AFC minnows Thailand.

Following their achievement of reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, Turkey are looking to become regular appearance-makers at the latter stages of major tournaments, although they face a difficult task qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup from a section containing European champions Spain.

Whether they make the North America showpiece next year or not, the Crescent-Stars will be pitting their wits against some of football's best international outfits in the near future courtesy of their promotion to League A of the UEFA Nations League in March.

A disruptor of elite nations over recent times, Hungary were no match for Turkey over two legs in a promotion/relegation playoff, with Vincenzo Montella's men winning 6-1 on aggregate to commence their 2025 international schedule on a strong footing.

Since then, the Crescent-Stars have featured in a pair of friendly contests in the United States in what they hope is subtle foreshadowing for potential adventures in 2026, with the UEFA outfit beating the Star and Stripes before losing to Mexico.

Turkey have the better of Thursday's hosts in the history of this fixture whilst also boasting better form in the short-term, with the visitors to Tbilisi winning both of their most recent matches against Georgia by 3-1 scorelines in 2012 and 2024 respectively.

Georgia form (all competitions): D L W W W D

Turkey form (all competitions): D L W W W L

Team News

Potentially at the start of a golden era, Georgia have a few world-class talents to call upon, including Champions League winner Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The Paris Saint-Germain magician is not the only star in the ranks of Jvarosnebi, who rely on the shot-stopping abilities of Liverpool man Giorgi Mamardashvili in net.

A former difference-maker on the Turkish scene for Ankaragucu and Hatayspor, Saba Lobjanidze scored in Georgia's draw with Cape Verde in June.

After a blistering start in the Turkish Super Lig for Galatasaray, Baris Alper Yilmaz is a doubt for the match on Thursday due to personal reasons.

Scoring five goals during the Crescent-Stars' successful Nations League campaign, Kerem Akturkoglu will be hoping to fire his country to next year's World Cup over the next few months.

Georgia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Azarovi, Kashia, Goglichidze, Lochoshvili; Kocharashvili, Mekvabishvili; Lominadze, Kiteishvili, Kvaratskhelia; Mikautadze

Turkey possible starting lineup:

Cakir; Muldur, Akaydin, Bardakci, Elmali; Yuksek, Calhanoglu, Aydin, Guler, Yildiz; Akturkoglu

We say: Georgia 2-1 Turkey

Backed by a hostile home crowd at Dinamo Arena, Georgia will be desperate to commence their World Cup qualification campaign with a win.

Turkey have shown real strength over the past 14 months, although we are expecting an opening-gameweek defeat for the Crescent-Stars on Thursday night.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.