Georgia’s President Mikheil Kavelashvili attended the World Cup qualifying match between Georgia and Turkiye in İzmit, accompanied by his children and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The two leaders also held a face-to-face meeting at Kocaeli Stadium to discuss current events and bilateral ties.

Following Georgia’s 4:1 defeat, President Kavelashvili met with the national team, urging the players to remain united and resilient.

“In both victory and defeat, unity is essential. You represent Georgia, and must continue to set an example—especially for the next generation,” he told the players. “A true professional rises after a setback, with head held high. We are a nation that always moves forward, even stronger after each fall.”

MPs Levan Makhashvili and Nikoloz Samkharadze were also present at the match.