Georgia’s men’s basketball team opens its World Cup qualifying campaign tonight at 20:50 Tbilisi time, hosting Ukraine in the Georgian capital. The game will be broadcast live on GPB First Channel, First Channel Sport, and Georgian Radio.
Tonight’s matchup carries special emotional weight, as it will be the final home appearance of veteran center Giorgi Shermadini. One of Georgia’s most iconic national team players, Shermadini is concluding an international career spanning nearly 20 years. His last game for the national side will take place on November 30 in Spain. With 200 caps to his name, he remains one of the most accomplished figures in Georgian basketball.
Head coach Aleksandar Džikić confirmed his 12-man roster on Monday. Tornike Shengelia, who featured in Barcelona’s EuroLeague victory last night against French club Villeurbanne, will join the national team today. He is scheduled to land in Tbilisi at 16:00, head directly to the team hotel, and take the court at 20:50 to face Ukraine alongside his teammates.
Georgia’s squad includes: Rati Andronikashvili, Kakha Jinjcharadze, Beka Burjanadze, Giorgi Shermadini, Duda Sanadze, Giorgi Turdzeladze, Giorgi Korsantia, Aleksandre Pevadze, Tornike Shengelia, Thad McFadden, Luka Mazziashvili and Mate Khatiashvili.
The qualifying tournament consists of two stages. In the first stage, 32 teams are divided into eight groups, with Georgia placed in Group A alongside Denmark, Ukraine and Spain. The top three teams from each group will progress to the second stage, forming four groups of six teams. Results from the first stage will carry over, and each team will face only the three qualifiers from the paired group.
Ultimately, the top three teams in each of the four groups will secure a place in the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar.
Georgia’s fixtures:
27 November 2025 – Georgia vs Ukraine
30 November 2025 – Spain vs Georgia
27 February 2026 – Denmark vs Georgia
2 March 2026 – Georgia vs Denmark
2 July 2026 – Ukraine vs Georgia
5 July 2026 – Georgia vs Spain
