Bulgaria and Georgia Clash in Final World Cup Qualifier

Sofia, Bulgaria — Bulgaria will face Georgia on November 18, 2025, in their final group stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. The match will take place at 7:45 PM local time, offering a chance for the teams to salvage pride after disappointing qualifications.

Bulgaria has struggled throughout the qualifying campaign, failing to earn any points and losing all five of their matches. Their most recent defeat was a 2-0 loss to Turkey, extending their winless streak to 10 international matches (2 draws, 8 losses). They last claimed victory against Luxembourg in November 2024.

Newly appointed coach, Nikolay Dimitrov, is trying to turn around the team’s fortunes after the sacking of Ilian Iliev. Dimitrov’s tenure began with three straight losses, and he aims to secure a win against Georgia, a team they have not defeated since a friendly match in September 2021.

For Georgia, the situation is also bleak. With only one win in five qualifying matches, they too were eliminated from contention for a top-two spot. Their most recent encounter resulted in a heavy 4-0 defeat to Spain, and they will look to capitalize on Bulgaria’s misfortunes. Prior to that, they secured a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria, highlighting their potential to end their campaign on a high note.

Both teams have seen key player withdrawals due to injuries. Bulgaria will be without Petko Hristov and several others, while Georgia is missing striker Georges Mikautadze and midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili due to injury and suspension. Georgia’s coach, Willy Sagnol, hopes that players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia can step up in their absence.

Bulgaria’s expected lineup includes Mitov, Georgiev, and Petrov among others, while Georgia will likely start Mamardashvili, Gocholeishvili, and Kvaratskhelia upfront. The match presents an opportunity for either team to close out a disappointing qualifying run with some dignity.

Fans will keep an eye on both teams as they look to improve on their recent performances. Bulgaria hopes to snap their long winless streak, while Georgia aims to finish their campaign with a double over their neighbors.