Türkiye’s national team will embark on their road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a stern opening test against Georgia in Tbilisi on September 4 night - a match that could set the tone for a qualifying campaign laden with both promise and peril.
The Group E fixture will kick off at 7:00 p.m. (GMT+4) (TSİ 19.00) at the Boris Paichadze National Stadium, The Caspian Post reports via Turkish media.
Drawn into a competitive yet treacherous Group E alongside Georgia, Bulgaria, and reigning European champions Spain, Türkiye faces a demanding path to North America.
Only the group winners will claim direct entry to the expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Twelve European winners qualify automatically, while runners-up must battle through a March 2026 playoff alongside four Nations League teams for the last four spots.
Türkiye starts away to Georgia before hosting Spain in Konya - a fixture already viewed as potentially decisive. Bulgaria and Spain will also meet later September 4 to round out the group’s opening week.
Head coach Vincenzo Montella, in his 24th match at the helm, seeks to build consistency while maintaining momentum. His tenure so far - 12 wins, 7 defeats, and 4 draws - includes a commanding Nations League promotion last spring, capped by a 6-1 aggregate win over Hungary.
Montella’s 27-man squad combines seasoned leaders with emerging talent. Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu anchors the midfield with Orkun Kökçü and Salih Özcan, supported by İsmail Yüksek and teenage prodigy Demir Ege Tıknaz.
Up front, Real Madrid’s Arda Güler and Juventus striker Kenan Yıldız headline a new generation of Turkish talent, joined by Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Barış Alper Yılmaz, though Yılmaz’s availability remains uncertain.
Defensively, Montella turns to stalwarts Merih Demiral, Çağlar Söyüncü, and Zeki Çelik, with Altay Bayındır, Uğurcan Çakır, and Mert Günok sharing goalkeeping duties.
Türkiye enters with renewed confidence after a Euro 2024 quarterfinal run - their deepest since 2008 - though recent US friendlies exposed lingering vulnerabilities, with a win over the Americans quickly followed by defeat to Mexico.
For Georgia, the night represents the launch of their boldest campaign yet. After making their major tournament debut at Euro 2024 and reaching the round of 16, Willy Sagnol’s men now dream of a historic first World Cup appearance.
The team revolves around PSG star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose flair and Champions League pedigree make him a constant threat. Behind him, Liverpool’s Giorgi Mamardashvili has risen to become one of Europe’s most sought-after goalkeepers.
Attackers Georges Mikautadze of Lyon and Saba Lobjanidze of Atlanta United add sharpness, while veteran captain Guram Kashia leads a defense balancing youth with experience.
Georgia is unbeaten in four, including a Nations League playoff rout of Armenia and positive June friendlies, building momentum and belief.
History tilts toward Türkiye, who has won four of six meetings with Georgia, netting 15 goals while conceding six. That tally includes a 3-1 victory at Euro 2024 in Dortmund. Georgia’s sole win came in a 2007 friendly in Tbilisi, with one other match ending in a draw.
For Montella’s side, three points on the road would provide vital momentum ahead of Spain’s visit. For Georgia, driven by a fervent home crowd, the match offers a chance to showcase their progress and ignite belief in an unprecedented World Cup journey.
