Georgia vs Northern Ireland

Georgia face Northern Ireland in UEFA Nations League B Matchweek 1 on Friday, 25 September 2026 at Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi, with the visitors travelling without injured defender Conor Bradley.

Michael O'Neill names 28-man squad without Conor Bradley

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill selected a 28-player panel for the start of the League B campaign, relying heavily on a young group that carries an average age of 24. Seventeen players in the squad are under the age of 25, alongside four teenagers. Liverpool defender Conor Bradley remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Preston North End midfielder Alistair McCann and Aberdeen midfielder Brad Lyons are also out injured.

Cover in defence is aided by the return of Hull City defender Paddy McNair following a foot problem, alongside Daniel Ballard, Terry Devlin and Eoin Toal. In midfield, Jordan Thompson returned to the panel for the first time since March 2025. In the forward positions, 18-year-old attackers Ceadach O'Neill and Braiden Graham both retained their places after featuring in senior squads earlier in the year.

Georgia rely on 27-man group under Willy Sagnol

Georgia head coach Willy Sagnol called up a 27-man squad to open Group B2 at Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena. Midfielder Anzor Mekvabishvili is among those included, having accumulated 33 senior international caps across European Championship tournaments and Nations League fixtures. Mekvabishvili and the Georgia squad begin the group phase at their home ground before travelling later in the international window.

Our model expects a Georgia win

Our model expects a Georgia win in this Matchweek 1 meeting. Home advantage at Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena and Georgia's established core weigh against a Northern Ireland side missing Bradley and McCann while integrating 17 players under the age of 25.