2026–2027 Nations League: Georgia vs. Northern Ireland—Probable Lineups

The 2026-2027 UEFA Nations League kicks off. On Friday evening in Tbilisi, Georgia faces Northern Ireland in the opening match of Group 2 in League B. This group promises to be particularly competitive and also includes Hungary and Ukraine.

Willy Sagnol’s Georgia aims to put the difficulties encountered during World Cup qualifying behind them and use the Nations League to push for promotion to League A. On the other side is Northern Ireland, fresh off its promotion from League C in the last edition of the Nations League. Michael O’Neill’s team also narrowly missed qualifying for the World Cup, falling only to Italy in the playoffs.

For Georgia, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will captain the team and play in the attacking midfield behind lone striker Georges Mikautadze. In defense, Lasha Dvali returns, slotting into the back three in front of Giorgi Mamardashvili. On the left flank, meanwhile, 18-year-old Saba Kharebashvili is in contention for a starting spot.

Northern Ireland welcomes back Dan Ballard, who is set to anchor the defense in place of Ruairi McConville. In midfield, with Ali McCann out due to injury, the battle for the starting spot remains open between Paddy McNair and Ethan Galbraith. Up front, O’Neill must choose between sticking with Jamie Donley as the central striker or fielding a true center forward.

Probable lineups:

Georgia (3-4-1-2): Mamardashvili; Dvali, Lochoshvili, Goglichidze; Mamageishvili, Kiteishvili, Chakvetadze, Kochorashvili, Kharebashvili; Kvaratskhelia; Mikautadze. Coach: Sagnol.

Northern Ireland (3-4-2-1): P. Charles; Hume, Ballard, Brown; Spencer, S. Charles, Galbraith, Devenny; Kelly, Price; Donley. Coach: O’Neill