The Georgian Football Federation’s four-year strategy for the period between 2022-26 is built on five pillars.
Creating a platform for sustained national team success
Optimising the elite competition structure
An inclusive grassroots football landscape as the foundation of the national game
Creating a platform for elite talent to flourish
Driving the development of the women’s game
To achieve its goals, the GFF is setting up a business intelligence unite to guide decision-making and is striving to be a modern organisation, embracing technology and investing sustainably for success, developing footballing infrastructure while driving awareness of the game at every level. Previous campaigns have been successful: from 2015-21, the number of registered players rose from 14,676 to 37,600.
During that period, the number of female players rose from 120 to 1,700, with Georgia launching its own women’s league in 2016, and a cup competition following in 2019. In addition to the adult players, 2,000 girls are involved in women’s grassroots projects – a hugely encouraging platform.
Meanwhile, the national teams are benefiting from a new brand platform, with the phrase 'I Am Georgia' capturing the imagination of players and fans. A new-look national-team kit reflects this new sense of positivity.
Growing the game in our country is the main task for me and my team. Our everyday activities are geared towards this goal. We aim to develop football at every level, professional to amateur, and to make the game accessible for all.
Levan Kobiashvili, GFF president
UEFA support
UEFA HatTrick funding has been crucial to the GFF's infrastructure projects, including the upgrading of the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium and the establishment of a national footballing academy, as well as the building and maintenance of local training centres across the country. In addition to helping to lay pitches and educate Georgia's referees and coaches, UEFA's contributions have backed the GFF's drives to strengthen grassroots football, including schools projects.
Association history
1907Comet FC become the first football club to be formally established in Georgia.1912The first documented football match is played in Tbilisi between local side Shevardeni and Baku-based English Oilers.1918During the time of the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918-21), nationwide football tournaments are played across the country.1925The Soviet-era Dinamo sports society establishes a football team in Tbilisi, with Dinamo Tbilisi going on to become Georgia's most successful side.1936The Georgian Football Federation is founded, spending its first decades operating under the Soviet Football Union. 1960Four Georgians (Slava Metreveli, Mikhiel Meskhi, Givi Chokheli and Zaur Kaloevi) feature in the USSR team that wins the European Championship.1964Dinamo Tbilisi win the first of their two Soviet top division titles (the second comes in 1978).1981Dinamo Tbilisi's 'golden team' wins its first European trophy, beating East Germany’s Carl Zeiss Jena 2-1 in the European Cup Winners' Cup final in Dusseldorf. 1988Representing the USSR, Gela Ketshvili becomes Georgia's first Olympic footballing gold medalist.1990On 15 February, the independent Georgian Football Federation is founded in Tbilisi. The nation's first independent football league is established on 30 March. 1992The GFF becomes a full member of FIFA and UEFA.1993Dinamo Tbilisi become the first team to represent the independent Georgia in UEFA club competition.2003Kakha Kaladze becomes the first Georgian to win a major UEFA competition since 1981 as he lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy with AC Milan. He repeats this feat with the same team in 2007.2004Dinamo Tbilisi become the first Georgian side to reach the group stage of a UEFA club competition, the 2004/05 UEFA Cup.2015The UEFA Super Cup takes place at the Boris Paichadze Stadium in Tbilisi; Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-4 after extra time in a memorable game on 11 August.2016Georgia's national women's league is established.2017Georgia hosts the UEFA European Under-19 Championship.2023Georgia co-hosts the UEFA European Under-21 Championship along with Romania.Present day
National team history
1990Georgia's national team makes its debut on 27 May, drawing 2-2 in a friendly against Lithuania in Tbilisi.1994Georgia play their first competitive game on 7 September, losing to Moldova in a EURO ’96 qualifier; in November they claim their first competitive win, 5-0 against Wales in Tbilisi.1997Georgia feature at the UEFA European Under-16 Championship; many of the same players are involved as they get to the UEFA European Under-18 Championship finals two years later.2006Georgia's women's national team starts to play on a regular basis.2011Levan Kobiashvili becomes the first Georgia player to win 100 caps for Georgia. Jaba Kankava (2021) and Guram Kashia (2022) go on to reach the same landmark.2012Georgia reach the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship.2020Georgia reach the EURO 2020 play-off final, losing out to North Macedonia in Tbilisi. The national team wins promotion to the second tier of the UEFA Nations League in 2022.2022Georgia reach the finals of the Futsal EURO for the first time.Present day
President
Levan Kobiashvili
Nationality: Georgian Date of birth: 10 July 1977 Association president since: 2015
