In a group where Portugal will most likely take first place, Ireland will compete for second place—and therefore for the playoffs—alongside Hungary and Armenia. To qualify for the World Cup, they will need to do better than the Magyars, whom they will face in a crucial head-to-head clash on the first day. Yes, the Boys in Green have a lot at stake in Dublin: starting with a victory against their direct competitor for second place would be a significant confidence boost for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team, the coach who surprised everyone by leading Iceland to Euro 2016 and taking them against all odds to the quarter-finals.
The Icelandic coach has had a very positive impact: Ireland has won four of its last nine games, including two in March against Bulgaria, which allowed it to remain in League B of the Nations League. More generally, under the new coach, Collins and his teammates have shown that they have grown in many ways and the worst seems to be behind them. Will it be enough to qualify for their first World Cup since 2002? In this sense, the match against Hungary will be a crucial test.
The team led by Italian Marco Rossi, on the other hand, seems to have lost some of its confidence. The results achieved in 2025 do not inspire confidence: the Magyars were defeated in their doubleheader with Turkey (3-1 in the first leg and 1-3 in the second) in the Nations League, losing the playoff and being relegated to League B. And the friendlies in July did not completely dispel the doubts: a home defeat to Sweden (0-2) and a narrow victory over Azerbaijan (1-2).
Odds comparison
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The prediction
Hungary has certainly not shone in recent games, but it remains a dangerous team, which can count on players of the caliber of Szoboszlai, Kerkez, and Szalai, to name but a few. However, it will not be easy for the Magyars to return from Ireland with three points: it promises to be a very competitive match, in which the home team should manage at least a draw. The total number of goals will probably be less than three.
Probable lineups for Ireland vs. Hungary
IRELAND (4-4-2): Kelleher; Doherty, Collins, O’Shea, Manning; Johnston, Cullen, Knight, Azaz; Idah, Ferguson.
HUNGARY (4-3-3): Dibusz; Nego, Orban, Szalai, Kerkez; A. Toth, Schafer, Szoboszlai; Lukacs, Varga, Sallai.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1