Ireland vs Hungary prediction 06.09.2025 | World Cup 2026 Qualification
Republic of Ireland
2 - 2
Elapsed: FT
Half time: 0 - 2
Full time: 2 - 2
Kick off:
Date:
Hungary
The match has ended, you can view today's football predictions and football predictions for tomorrow.
Contents
- Competition: World Cup 2026 Qualification - Europe
- Date: 6th September, 2025
- Kickoff: 19:45 UK / 20:45 CEST
- Venue: Aviva Stadium
Two national teams absent from the FIFA World Cup finals for decades - Ireland and Hungary - are determined to end that unwanted record as qualification for the 2026 tournament begins. Both sides open their campaigns on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, marking their first competitive head-to-head in World Cup qualifying since 1989.
Republic of Ireland vs Hungary Head to Head (H2H) stats
-
Republic of Ireland
2 : 1
Hungary
Friendly International
-
Hungary
0 : 0
Republic of Ireland
Friendly International
-
Hungary
0 : 0
Republic of Ireland
Friendly International
The last World Cup qualifier between Hungary and Ireland came in 1989 during the road to Italia ’90. Ireland asserted their superiority, holding Hungary to a 0-0 draw in Budapest before sealing qualification with a decisive 2-0 victory in the return fixture in Dublin. More recently, the teams met in a 2024 friendly, which Ireland edged 2-1.
Ireland team overview
Ireland also endured a tricky UEFA Nations League 2024/25, finishing third in Group 2 of League B. They secured their place in the division by defeating Bulgaria 4-2 on aggregate in a two-legged relegation playoff. June friendlies ended in stalemates - 1-1 against Senegal and 0-0 versus Luxembourg.
Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson will be without Troy Parrott (medial knee ligament injury) and Robbie Brady (injury), with Ryan Manning expected to step into the starting lineup.
Last matches of Republic of Ireland
-
Luxembourg
0 : 0
Republic of Ireland
Friendly International
-
Republic of Ireland
1 : 1
Senegal
Friendly International
-
Republic of Ireland
2 : 1
Bulgaria
UEFA Nations League
-
Bulgaria
1 : 2
Republic of Ireland
UEFA Nations League
-
England
5 : 0
Republic of Ireland
UEFA Nations League
Republic of Ireland lineup
Goalkeeper
-
16
Max O'Leary
Defenders
-
5
Jake O'Brien
-
22
Nathan Collins
-
4
Dara O'Shea
-
3
Ryan Manning
Midfielders
-
24
Killian Phillips
-
8
Jason Knight
-
17
Kasey McAteer
-
6
Will Smallbone
Forwards
-
9
Evan Ferguson
-
10
Adam Idah
Hungary team overview
Hungary enter this fixture after a disappointing UEFA Nations League campaign, where they were relegated from League A. They finished third in Group 3 with just one win from six matches, eventually losing 6-1 on aggregate to Turkey in the promotion/relegation playoff. Over the summer, Hungary played two friendlies - a 2-0 defeat to Sweden followed by a 2-1 victory over Azerbaijan.
Head coach Marco Rossi is expected to field a full-strength lineup, featuring key figures such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez, alongside newcomers Barna Tóth and Rajmund Molnár.
Last matches of Hungary
-
Azerbaijan
1 : 2
Hungary
Friendly International
-
Hungary
0 : 2
Sweden
Friendly International
-
Hungary
0 : 3
Turkey
UEFA Nations League
-
Turkey
3 : 1
Hungary
UEFA Nations League
-
Hungary
1 : 1
Germany
UEFA Nations League
Hungary lineup
Goalkeeper
-
12
Balázs Tóth
Defenders
-
7
Loic Négo
-
6
Willi Orbán
-
15
Márton Dárdai
-
18
Zsolt Nagy
Midfielders
-
13
András Schäfer
-
21
Alex Tóth
-
10
Dominik Szoboszlai
Forwards
-
14
Bendegúz Bolla
-
20
Roland Sallai
-
19
Barnabás Varga
Prediction
Neither side impressed in the 2024/25 Nations League, both flirting with relegation and struggling to convert chances. Ireland averaged 0.9 goals per game, while Hungary managed just 0.6. Notably, Ireland are unbeaten in their last five World Cup qualifiers, with three of those matches producing under 2.5 goals.
Given their recent attacking inefficiency and tendency to adopt a cautious approach, a low-scoring contest is likely. Expect a tight, pragmatic affair with under 2.5 total goals.
Three reasons we expect Under 2.5 Goals
- Both Ireland and Hungary averaged fewer than one goal per game during the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign.
- Under 2.5 goals were recorded in 3 of Ireland’s last 5 World Cup qualifying matches.
- Under 2.5 goals were produced in 2 of Hungary’s last 3 World Cup qualifiers away from home.
Main prediction Republic of Ireland - Hungary
Under 2.5 goals
Republic of Ireland vs Hungary standings in WC Qualification Europe
| Group F | P | W | D | L |
G - A
|
GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portugal | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 - 4 | +7 | 10 |
| 2 | Hungary | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 - 7 | +1 | 5 |
| 3 | Republic of Ireland | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 - 5 | -1 | 4 |
| 4 | Armenia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 - 9 | -7 | 3 |