The 2026 World Judo Championships face a demanding conclusion for the Italian delegation as the mixed team event bracket pits the unseeded squad directly against the defending world champions, Georgia, on Sunday, Oct. 11, at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, OA Sport reported.
Baku Tournament Format and the Final Day Schedule
The eight-day international competition in Azerbaijan’s capital marks the primary event of the season, drawing over 900 athletes from more than 90 countries to vie for crucial ranking points toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, according to Zazoom.it. Sunday’s program serves as the tournament’s eighth and final day, featuring the mixed team competition where the fifteenth and final world title of the event will be decided, OA Sport reported.
Tough First-Round Opponent for Italy
Without the protection of a seeded spot in the tournament bracket, the Italian team received an unfavorable draw. The opening round pairs the Italian judokas against a formidable Georgian roster featuring standouts Lasha Shavdatuashvili, Lasha Bekauri, Luka Maisuradze, Guram Tushishvili, and Eteri Liparteliani, as detailed by OA Sport.
Roster Adjustments and Team Lineup
The Italian squad enters the team competition missing two of its primary individual medalists, Assunta Scutto and Odette Giuffrida.
Full Mixed Team Event Bracket
The full draw for the 2026 World Judo Championships team event lines up as follows:
- Brazil vs. China
- Cuba vs. Turkey
- Mongolia vs. Kyrgyzstan
- Japan vs. Azerbaijan/Austria
- Italy vs. Georgia
- Uzbekistan vs. Germany
- South Korea vs. Russia/United Arab Emirates
- Kazakhstan vs. France
This sequence places the Italian team on a collision course with the defending champions immediately as the final day opens on the Baku tatami.
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