World Cup 2026: Spain Can Heap Pain on Georgia

Spain vs Georgia

European champions Spain host Georgia at the Martinez Valero Stadium in Alicante on Saturday in a World Cup 2026 qualifier, which can see La Roja pull away from the Group E pack and dump Georgia in a scrap for second place.

Luis de La Fuente’s Spain come into the game in excellent shape and have picked up two wins from two in qualification so far, while Willy Sagnol’s Georgia have a win and a loss. Both nations beat Bulgaria 3-0, but they had rather different outcomes when they met Turkey, who edged out Georgia 3-2 in their opener, before being smacked 6-0 by La Roja. 

I’ve said all along that Spain are the nation to beat and the World Cup 2026 betting odds back me up, with La Roja as clear favourites to add the world title to their European crown. And I fully expect the hosts to win this clash, but it should be an entertaining watch.

Two of the players who appeared in the SBOTOP pick of the biggest stars in the Champions League, Pedri of Spain and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Georgia, will be gracing the playing surface in Elche, and that will be worth the admission fee alone.

 

Talking Points

Rodri out for Spain

La Roja has a squad littered with stars, but they will enter this clash without one of their most influential players after defencive midfielder Rodri limped off after just 20 minutes of Manchester City’s win over Brentford at the weekend. It’s not exactly the World Cup 2026 news Spain fans wanted to hear, as Rodri has emerged in recent years as the best No. 6 in world football, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2024. The prognosis from the Etihad Stadium is that the injury is not as bad as first feared, but Rodri will not be risked for this upcoming international.

Arsenal’s 26-year-old star Martin Zubimendi will step in to anchor the midfield, allowing Pedri to pull the strings in a more creative role. Spain are also without the injured wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.

But they have such strength in depth, with the in-form Ferran Torres and Euro 2024 hero Mikel Oyarzabal able to stretch the Georgia defence, and Dani Olmo playing a fluid role in the No. 10 position. And with Alvaro Morata rested, there could be a start for Como’s 19-year-old striker Jesus Rodriguez in the centre-forward position.        

 

Kvaratskhelia is Georgia’s diamond   

Sagnol’s Georgia currently sit 68^th in the FIFA World Rankings, and they are about to face the top team in the world, but they won’t arrive in Alicante to roll over, and the manager will set them up to be difficult to break down.

The visitors will likely play in a deep formation, with two banks of four, hoping to hit La Roja on the break. And if and when they do break out of their own half, in PSG’s Kvaratskheila, Georgia have a genuinely world-class winger. With 20 goals in 43 internationals, two Scudetto wins with Napoli, and a Ligue I title and Champions League winners medal with PSG, the 24-year-old is already one of the most decorated footballers on the planet. A strong and quick player with incredible dribbling skills and a lethal finish, Kvaratskhelia would walk into most domestic and international teams. And with him on their side, Georgia always have a chance.

But this is not a one-man show, and with Villarreal’s Georges Mikautadze alongside Kvaratskhelia, the Georgians do have a bite. Also 24, Mikautadze has 21 goals in 39 appearances for his country and is a real goal threat when he gets some space. At the other end of the pitch, Liverpool keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to pick up his 32^nd cap.         

 

History

Spain are previous World Cup winners, claiming the global crown in 2010, and they are the reigning European champions for the fourth time. Georgia is a relatively new football nation, eligible to qualify for the World Cup since 1998, but they are yet to qualify for the finals.

And Spain have dominated this fixture, winning five of the last six encounters, last time hammering Georgia 7-1 in a European qualifier in Tbilisi in 2023.

In terms of recent form, Spain have three wins and three draws from the last six games, while Georgia have four wins, one draw, and one defeat. But bear in mind that three of Georgia’s wins were against Armenia (twice) and the Faroe Islands, and they drew with Cape Verde, and they have only picked up one result from their last 17 away qualifiers.

 

Betting Tip

Spain are the red-hot favourites at 1.22 to win this clash, which could put a clear distance between them and the rest in Group E, particularly if Turkey fail to win in Bulgaria on Saturday. And that is a game which is difficult to call.

But with the draw at 5.75 and a Georgia win at 9.50, the match in Alicante is only going one way.     

   

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