Ireland vs Hungary prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-09-05 18:45.
[p]An improving Republic of Ireland begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) campaign at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin against a Hungary side trying to reach their first finals in 40 years.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Ireland have not featured at a World Cup finals since 2002 when they reached the last 16 despite the famous bust-up between manager Mick McCarthy and captain Roy Keane. Current manager Heimir Hallgrímsson is charged with ending their drought, and after a poor start in the job saw him lose four of his first six games (W2), Ireland begin this cycle on a four match unbeaten run (W2, D2). The Boys in Green are also unbeaten in their last three games at the Aviva Stadium (W2, D1), with their last defeat in Dublin coming 12 months ago.[/p]
[p]It was 1986 when Hungary last qualified for a World Cup and nine WCQ campaigns have been and gone since with only one play-off, for France ‘98, when they came close. The form of Marco Rossi’s side from November 2024 to early June 2025 (D1, L4) was far from encouraging but they do at least come into this game following a 2-1 away victory in their last match against Azerbaijan. That win was only their second on the road across their last eight fixtures, although they performed impressively in away games during their failed 2022 WCQ attempt, losing just one of their five fixtures (W3, D1).[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Hungary were unbeaten across the first eight H2Hs between the sides (W4, D4) but from 1989 onwards it is Ireland who have not tasted defeat in any of the six meetings (W3, D3). The last four H2Hs have all been friendlies, with Ireland winning the most recent (2-1) in June 2024.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Ireland have failed to score 3+ goals in 15 of their last 16 fixtures.[/p]
[p]Ireland have won only one of their last nine home WCQ matches (D5, L3).[/p]
[p]Hungary have failed to keep a clean sheet across their last six games.[/p]
[p]Hungary opened the scoring in four of their five away matches in their last WCQ campaign.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Ireland’s Adam Idah opened the scoring when these sides last met and all five of his international goals have come in home games. Barnabás Varga was involved in both of Hungary’s goals in their last game (G1, A1) and has been in fine form for his club this season with 12 goal contributions across 11 games (G10, A2).[/p]
[p]In-form striker Troy Parrott misses out for Ireland, while Hungary seem to have a fully fit squad to select from.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Despite Ireland rarely being prolific in front of goal, Hungary have not kept a clean sheet since last October, so we’ll take a chance by suggesting backing the hosts to score exactly two goals in this fixture.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Tom Penn[/i][/p]