Georgia vs Israel: prediction, head-to-head, and probable line-ups – 26 March 2026
In this friendly match, Georgia will host Israel at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi. The hosts, traditionally strong on their own turf, look like the favorites here, but this won't be a walk in the park—Israel is more than capable of putting up a fight. Let's break down the likely outcome of this intriguing clash.
Match preview
After a dazzling run at the Euros, Georgia faced a harsh reality in World Cup qualifying, landing in a brutally tough group with Spain and Turkey. Willy Sagnol's men managed just one win in six matches—over Bulgaria—and finished third in the group, but that result shouldn't be misleading: the level of competition was among the highest. Meanwhile, Georgia looked dominant in the Nations League, dispatching Armenia with authority (6-1, 3-0), and at home, they remain a formidable opponent.
Crucially, Georgia has been consistently beating sides of similar or slightly lower caliber in Tbilisi. Victories over Bulgaria (3-0), Czechia (4-1), Armenia (6-1), and even a narrow win against the Faroe Islands (1-0) showcase this team's ability to control such matchups. Despite missing Kochorashvili and Kakabadze, the key leaders—Kvaratskhelia, Mikautadze, Kiteishvili, and Mamardashvili—are all available, so the hosts' attacking threat remains intact.
Israel's qualifying campaign went as expected: they handled the group outsiders comfortably but struggled badly against top-tier opposition. Heavy defeats to Norway (2-4, 0-5) and Italy (4-5, 0-3) exposed the team's limitations—they're just not ready to challenge for major tournament berths. Even four wins over Moldova and Estonia weren't enough to lift them above third place in their group.
Further complicating matters for the visitors are personnel issues and instability on the road. Manor Solomon is sidelined with injury, and several other key midfield and defensive players are also absent. Away from home, Israel has looked particularly toothless—three consecutive away games without scoring, including a goalless draw with Lithuania and heavy defeats to Norway and Italy (0-8 aggregate). In these circumstances, Israel will likely opt for a cautious, defensive approach, but that may not be enough against a confident Georgian side at home.
Probable line-ups
- Georgia: Mamardashvili, Lochoshvili, Kashia, Azarovi, Gocholeishvili, Mekvabishvili, Chakvetadze, Kiteishvili, Kvaratskhelia, Davitashvili, Mikautadze.
- Israel: Peretz, Lemkin, Blorian, Dasa, Revivo, Peretz, Kanichovsky, Halaile, Gandelman, Glukh, Turgeman.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Georgia has won most of their recent home matches against teams of similar strength, including victories over Bulgaria (3-0) and Czechia (4-1).
- Israel lost all their qualifiers against top-tier nations, suffering two defeats each to Norway and Italy.
- Israel has failed to score in their last three away matches.
Prediction
Even though it’s a friendly, expect a tense, at times cagey affair. Georgia will look to dictate possession and exploit their attacking leaders' individual brilliance, while Israel is likely to focus on defense and look for rare counterattacking opportunities. Factoring in the home advantage and Israel’s recent form, Georgia appears to have the edge—though not by a landslide. The best bet here is a “Georgia win.”
