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The 2026 UEFA World Cup qualifier between Spain and Georgia was played on October 11, 2025, at the Martínez Valero Stadium in Elche, Spain, in front of 28,661 spectators.
European champions Spain put in a dominant performance, securing a 2-0 victory and maintaining their perfect start in Group E. Despite key players such as Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo missing due to injury, La Roja controlled over 80% of possession and limited Georgia to zero shots on goal, demonstrating their depth and tactical discipline under coach Luis de la Fuente.
24′ Goal (1-0): Yeremy Pino fired a point-blank shot from a corner that was half-cleared by the Georgian defense and passed by Robin Le Normand. Pedri’s through ball into the box kicked off the move, highlighting Spain’s skill from set pieces. 28′ Penalty: Georgia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili brought down Ferran Torres inside the box (confirmed by VAR), but the Valencia goalkeeper dived low to his left to save Torres’ penalty in his 50th international match.
First-half saves: Mamardashvili continued his heroic performance, stopping Pedro Porro’s curling shot and Mikel Oyarzabal’s near-post free kick.
64′ Goal (2-0): Oyarzabal sealed the victory with a stunning left-footed free kick into the top corner after Porro skillfully deflected the ball outside the box.
Second-half chances: Spain twice hit the woodwork: Porro’s curled shot hit the post, and Oyarzabal’s rebound was deflected onto the bar by Otar Kiteishvili. Torres also shot wide early in the first half.
The match was refereed by Manfredas Lukjancukas, who overturned an early penalty claim in favor of Torres after a VAR review. Overall, it was a lopsided encounter, with Spain’s midfield dictating play and Georgia relying on a deep defensive block.
Yeremy Pino (Spain): Scored the first goal and created chances, being praised as the match’s standout winger.
Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain): Accurate finisher with a superb free kick; he also forced a save and hit the woodwork.
Pedri (Spain): Put on a brilliant midfield display, controlling the pace and indirectly assisting on Pino’s goal. He played in key moments but lamented the missed penalty.
Man of the Match candidate for Georgia with multiple world-class saves, keeping the score at a respectable level.
Spain’s victory extends their unbeaten run to 28 matches and consolidates their position at the top of Group E with a perfect total of 9 points from 3 matches (9 goals scored, 0 conceded).
This result brings them closer to automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, demonstrating resilience amid an injury crisis. Georgia, meanwhile, remains winless in the group (likely 0 points after this defeat), increasing the pressure on coach Willy Sagnol to strengthen his defense ahead of tougher matches, such as the upcoming tie against Türkiye.
(Group E standings as of October 12, 2025; Goal Difference. Source: Aggregate from match reports.)
Long-Term Consequences
For Spain: It reinforces their status as Euro 2024 champions and makes them a leading contender for back-to-back titles at major tournaments.
The performance highlights the squad’s depth, with substitutes like Pino stepping up, but raises minor concerns about Torres’ penalty-taking struggles (his second penalty miss in international matches). It also boosts morale ahead of their Nations League commitments.
For Georgia: A harsh dose of reality after their heroic performance at Euro 2024 (reaching the knockout stage). A clean sheet and lack of attacking threat could undermine confidence, potentially leading to tactical adjustments or the integration of youth players. However, Mamardashvili’s strong form offers a glimmer of hope for their World Cup aspirations through qualifying.
Spain’s dominance opens a gap at the top, putting pressure on Turkey (who drew 2-2 with Georgia earlier) to chase them down. Bulgaria’s inconsistency keeps the fight for second place alive, while Georgia risks an early exit.
The social media outpouring on X (formerly Twitter) reflects widespread acclaim for Spain’s dominance, with fans celebrating Pino’s “stellar performance” and the team’s “perfect night” in Elche, where they have already won all seven of their international matches (19 goals scored and 1 conceded). One viral post summed it up: “Spain remains PERFECT with 9 out of 3 👌.”
Analysts conclude that this was a “routine cruise” for Spain, underscoring their evolution into a possession-based giant after Euro 2024: fluid, relentless from set pieces, and unbreakable even without stars.
Pedri’s orchestration and Oyarzabal’s finesse were crucial, but Georgia’s resilience (with Mamardashvili as the protagonist) prevented a rout. For La Roja, it’s another step toward World Cup glory; for Georgia, it’s a call to fine-tune their game against elite opponents. As one report noted, Spain “overcame the absences with a confident display,” positioning them as the favorite to top the group unchallenged. Spain is expected to build on this momentum in the November doubleheader. 10 publications, 16 websites.
