The national football team of Georgia represents Georgia in association football and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation (GFF), the governing body of the sport there. It competes as a member of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which includes countries from Europe. Organized football has been played in the country since the 20th century. Georgia joined UEFA and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in 1992. Malik played two friendlies before joining. Georgia Football history.
From 1990-1991
From 1990–91, football in Georgia was subject to Soviet Union sanctions and international sanctions, due to the Soviet Union’s succession to the Football Federation. In the movement for independence from Russian domination, Georgia became the first Soviet republic whose football seceded from Soviet football.
Georgia’s first match 2–2 draw against Lithuania—occurred on 27 May 1990 and was Georgia’s only match as the Soviet Socialist Republic. Their first victory came in their next match, 4–2 against Moldova. They entered their first major international competition in 1994: the qualifying round for the 1996 UEFA European Football Championship.
In 1994-1998
The team won their first competitive match on 10 February 1994 when they beat Malta 1–0 in the 1994 Rothmans International Tournament. Georgia participated in the qualifying round of the FIFA World Cup for the first time during the 1998 edition, but the country has yet to reach the finals of the World Cup or the European Football Championship.
The team’s biggest victory came on 30 March 1997 when they defeated Armenia by seven goals to nil in a friendly match. Their worst loss was 6-1 against Denmark in 2005. Georgia also lost five goals to nil against Romania in 1996. Leon Kobiashvili holds the appearance record for Georgia, having been capped 100 times during an international career spanning 15 years. The goal-scoring record is held by Shota Arveladze who scored 26 times in 61 matches. As of April 2019, Georgia is ranked 94th in the FIFA world rankings. Its highest ever ranking of 42nd was achieved in September 1998.
Main History
The history of the Georgian national football team began in 1990 when the team played its first international match against Lithuania, the first country to accept an invitation. This match took place on 27 May 1990 at the National Stadium. Georgia was coached by Gavi Nodia. The friendly match ended in a 2-2 draw. It was the only match before the declaration of independence on 9 April 1991. Soon after, 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 Euro 1996 qualifiers. So, Georgia finished third in their group ahead of Moldova, Wales, and Albania, but finished seven points behind second-placed qualifiers Bulgaria.
Georgia in FIFA World Cup
Georgia failed to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, earning 10 points and finishing fourth on points with Poland. Currently, Georgia has reached forty-second place in the FIFA World Ranking.
Euro 2000
During UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying, the Georgian national team won one match, drew two, and finished bottom of the group with five points. This ushered in a period of decline for Georgian football.
The team finished fifth (and last) in their qualifying group for Euro 2004 with seven points, although they beat Russia with a goal from Malkaz Ashtiani. Georgia Football history.
In the 2006 FIFA World Cup
In the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Georgia defeated Albania 2–0 at home and Kazakhstan 2–1. They finished sixth (second bottom) in Group 2 with ten points.
Georgia finished sixth out of seven teams in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying group with ten points. They beat Scotland 2-0 at home and the Faroe Islands 6-0 and 3-1 at home.
Georgia National Football team
Hector Cuper became Georgia’s manager in August 2008. During the qualification round for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Georgia failed to win a match and finished sixth (and last) with three points. Cuper did not extend his contract, and on November 6, 2009, Timur Katsbeya was appoint as the new manager of the Georgia national football team.
Catesby resign as manager on 14 November 2014 following a 4–0 home defeat by Poland in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers, having previously stated that he would do so before the match regardless of the result.
In June 2016, Georgia defeated two-time European champions Spain 1–0 in their last friendly before Euro 2016. Georgia Football history.
In 2008
In 2018, they were the first team to gain promotion to the new UEFA Nations League. They scored the first goal of the event in the UEFA Nations League D game in Kazakhstan before beating Latvia and Andorra twice, with 2 games still to play. In UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, Georgia had a disappointing run, with their only win coming over Gibraltar. Still, after finishing first in League D, Georgia managed to qualify for the nation’s first major playoff. Georgia Football history.
Georgia managed to beat Belarus 1-0 to boost their hopes of qualifying for UEFA Euro 2020 but dashed after Georgia’s heartbreaking home defeat by North Macedonia in the decider. Thus missed the chance to make a historic debut. In a big competition.
Georgia improved their 2022 World Cup qualification with an emphatic 2–0 win over Sweden on 11 November 2021. For more details click here