Hungary-Ireland World Cup Qualifier Preview: Historical Trends Favor Hallgrímsson's Team
In a historic World Cup qualifier, Hungary and Ireland will face off at the 67,000-capacity Puskás Arena in Budapest, concluding Ireland's campaign on November 18th. This return trip follows Ireland's 2-1 victory over Hungary in June 2024, marking their sixth consecutive unbeaten match against the Magyars.
The last time Hungary emerged victorious against Ireland was in November 1969, a streak that has been unbroken for over five decades. However, Hungary made history in May 1993, when they became the first foreign team to defeat England at home after a memorable match against Ireland.
Ferenc Puskás, the legendary Hungarian striker and captain of the Mighty Magyars, played a pivotal role in this historic victory. He scored twice in the match against England in 1953, a game famously known as the Match of the Century. During the 1993 encounter against Ireland, Puskás was given a spontaneous standing ovation by the Lansdowne Road crowd, a testament to his enduring legacy.
In more recent times, Ferencvaros, the most successful Hungarian club, has had two encounters with Irish opponents, Shamrock Rovers, in both 2022 and 2023. Robbie Keane, the former Irish international, took charge of Ferencvaros in January 2025, leading them to their seventh successive league title that year and nearly securing a double by reaching the Hungarian Cup final.
Interestingly, six of Keane's Ferencvaros players have been selected for the Hungarian national team for the World Cup qualifier against Ireland. Meanwhile, Damien Duff, a former Irish international, retained his membership of Ireland's elite centurion club despite the aforementioned match not being recognized as official.
Mason Melia, at just 17 years old, made history in March when he scored for Ireland's under-21s in their 3-1 win against Hungary's under-21s, becoming the youngest player to score for Ireland at that level.
Looking back, a capacity crowd in Cork watched an entertaining 2-2 draw between Ireland and Hungary in 1939, a significant game as it marked Ireland's first home game outside Dublin. The Mardyke in Cork hosted this fixture, which was Ireland's last home game for seven years.
The 2026 Champions League final will also be held at the Puskás Arena, further highlighting the venue's significance in European football. The Fifa Puskás Award, given annually to the scorer of the goal of the year, has also had Hungarian connections, with Stephanie Roche shortlisted for the accolade in 2014.
As the two teams prepare for their highly anticipated encounter, the spotlight will be on Hungary to break their long-standing winless streak against Ireland. The stage is set for an exciting World Cup qualifier, with both teams eager to secure a valuable three points.
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