The administration of President Salome Zourabichvili announced on Thursday that members of Georgia's national football team and representatives of the Football Federation will be honored with an Order of Honor and a medal. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in September at the Orbelian Palace.

In a statement, the administration explained the procedure, noting, "according to standard practice, the President of Georgia issues the act of awarding a few days before the awards are presented. This was the case on May 23, 2024, when President Zourabichvili issued decrees (n:23/05/02 and n:23/05/01) to award the  nominated individuals with an Order of Honor and a medal".

Initially, an official ceremony was planned for the end of May, but it was postponed due to the absence of the national team members from Georgia. The next gathering of the national team in Georgia is expected in early September, at which time President Zourabichvili will present the awards.

The exact recipients of the Order of Honor and the medals have not yet been disclosed. 

The awards were recommended by the government on March 27, in accordance with the Law "On State Awards and Premiums of Georgia." The list includes:

Members of the Georgian Men's National Team:

Giorgi Mamardashvili

Giorgi Loria

Luka Gugeshashvili

Solomon Kverkvelia

Saba Sazonov

Guram Kashia

Giorgi Gvelesiani

Lasha Dvali

Luka Lochoshvili

Otar Kakabadze

Giorgi Gocholeishvili

Vladimir Mamuchashvili

Levan Shengelia

Giorgi Tsitaishvili

Otar Kiteishvili

Nika Kvekveskiri

Giorgi Chakvetadze

Sandro Altunashvili

Giorgi Kochorashvili

Jaba Kankava

Anzor Mekvabishvili

Zuriko Davitashvili

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Giorgi Mikoutadze

Budu Zivzivadze

Giorgi Kvilitaia

Coaches of the Georgian Men's National Team:

Vili Sanioli

Adel Shedli

Zurab Khizanishvili

Davit Gvaramadze

Irakli Chitauri

Levan Zamtaradze

Fabien Bossuet

David Webb

Representatives of the Georgian Football Federation:

Levan Kobiashvili, President

David Mujiri, Secretary General

Kakha Chumburidze, First Vice-President

Nikoloz Jgharkawa, Vice-President

Aleksandre Iashvili, Vice-President

Akaki Aladashvili, Vice-President

Zaza Zamtaradze, Technical Director

Staff of the Georgian Men's National Team:

Giorgi Katsitadze

Vladimer Dvalishvili

Davit Kharabadze

Giorgi Changelia

Mikheil Abramishvili

Giorgi Bzhalava

Tengiz Gulbiani

Giorgi Kochladze

Grigol Lezhava

Gela Guchua

Giorgi Ngugadze

Konstantine Tedeluri

Additionally, the administration responded to remarks made by Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, who expressed regret that the President had not yet responded to the submission of football players and federation officials for the Order of Merit. The President's administration clarified, "today, misinformation was spread, suggesting that the President refuses to award the members of the national football team and the representatives of the national football federation".

The Georgian national team earned the Order of Honor after defeating Greece in a penalty shootout during the final match of the qualifying playoff, securing their place in the European Championship for the first time in history.