Hungary Defeats Ireland 2-0 in World Cup Qualifying Opener
DUBLIN – The Hungarian national team defeated the Republic of Ireland 2-0 in Dublin on Saturday night, launching their campaign for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The victory marks a strong start for Hungary in group F, which also includes Portugal and Armenia.This is the frist step in a qualifying process where the group winner automatically advances to the World Cup, and the runner-up enters a play-off round in March.The draw last December placed Hungary alongside Portugal, Ireland, and Armenia, presenting a challenging path to qualification. While a first-place finish would be a meaningful achievement,securing second place – and a play-off berth – is considered a more realistic goal,with Ireland emerging as a key competitor.This Dublin match was therefore pivotal in setting the tone for the remainder of the qualifying series.
Lineups:
Ireland: Kelleher – Doherty, O’Shea, Collins, O’Brien – Knight, Cullen, Azaz - Szmodics, Ferguson, Manning. Federal Captain: Heimir Hallgrímsson
Hungary: Dibusz – Nego, Orban, Szalai, Kerény – Styles – bolla, Tóth, Szoboszlai, Sallai – Varga. Federal Captain: Marco Rossi
Referee: Harm Osmers (German)
Qualifying Schedule:
Saturday, September 6, 2025, 8:45 pm: Ireland vs. Hungary, Dublin
Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 8:45 pm: Hungary vs. Portugal, Puskás Arena
Saturday, October 11, 2025, 6:00 pm: Hungary vs. Iceland, Puskás Arena
tuesday, October 14, 2025, 8:45 pm: Portugal vs. Hungary, Lisbon
Thursday, November 13, 2025, 6:00 pm: Armenia vs. Hungary, Yerevan
* Sunday, November 16, 2025, 3:00 pm: Hungary vs. Ireland, Puskás Arena
This qualifying campaign represents Hungary’s prospect to return to the World Cup stage for the first time in forty years, following their last appearance in 1986. The expanded 48-team format for the 2026 tournament - hosted jointly by Mexico, Canada, and the United States - increases the number of European teams qualifying from 13 to 16, possibly improving Hungary’s chances.
