Hungary vs Portugal Prediction 09.09.2025 | WC Qualifiers Europe

Instead of standing shoulder to shoulder with Portugal at the top of Group F after the opening round of WCQ, Hungary endured a dramatic second-half collapse away to the Republic of Ireland, throwing away a two-goal cushion to come away with only a 2-2 draw.

The heartbreak of letting a victory slip away could severely hinder their hopes of reaching a first World Cup final since 1986, and with powerhouse Portugal up next, the pressure is mounting as they risk going winless from their September assignments.

In fact, the Magyars have struggled to leave a positive mark against higher-ranked opponents lately, as their 2-0 triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina remains their only highlight from the past nine competitive fixtures, during which they have fallen to four losses.

Galatasaray right-back Roland Sallai received a red card in the second half of Hungary’s WCQ opener against Ireland, ruling him out of Tuesday’s tough clash with Portugal, with Bendeguz Bolla expected to step in.

In a statement-making opener to their World Cup 2026 campaign, Portugal delivered a five-star performance against Armenia in Yerevan, with the ever-prolific Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a brace to underline his enduring brilliance.

Robert Martinez’s side has carried their strong form forward after lifting a historic second UEFA Nations League trophy in only four years, overcoming Spain in a tense penalty shootout, and will now aim to make a major push for a seventh straight World Cup qualification.

While a trip to Budapest could pose challenges for any side, A Selecao carry a strong sense of assurance, as they have not suffered defeat in any of their last nine World Cup qualifiers on foreign soil, triumphing in seven of them.

Although it wasn’t due to injury, Pedro Neto was taken off at the start of the second half against Armenia for Francisco Trincao, suggesting this could be the only change for Tuesday’s tougher test.