Sabasports Match Preview
World Cup Qualification: Ireland vs Hungary
Kickoff Time: 2025-09-07 02:45 (HKT)
Source: Source:REUTERS/Yves Herman
Ireland has participated in three World Cup finals, with their best achievement being the quarter-finals in 1990. Their most recent appearance in the finals was in 2002. In subsequent World Cup campaigns, Ireland’s best performance was finishing second in the qualifiers, failing to advance to the finals. The current squad includes several young players from Europe’s top five leagues, such as 20-year-old Roma striker Evan Ferguson, 24-year-old Brentford defender Nathan Collins, 24-year-old Everton defender Jake O’Brien, 26-year-old Ipswich defender Dara O’Shea, and 27-year-old midfielder Jack Taylor. Among them, Nathan Collins, with an estimated value of €28 million, is the highest-valued player on the team and has frequently appeared in scouting reports from Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and Arsenal. Additionally, 23-year-old Troy Parrott, who plays for Dutch powerhouse AZ Alkmaar, is also worth watching. In the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers this season, he contributed seven goals and one assist, currently leading the top scorer list. Undoubtedly, Ireland is witnessing the rise of a new golden generation.
Hungarian football has a glorious history, having finished as runners-up in the World Cup in 1938 and 1954. However, in recent years, Hungarian football has declined significantly, failing to qualify for the World Cup finals. In the last World Cup qualifiers, they finished fourth in their group. The current squad is led by Liverpool duo Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez. Szoboszlai, with his match-winning goal against Arsenal, was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award in August. Beyond these two, however, the rest of the squad is relatively average in quality. The highest-valued player is 19-year-old Wolfsburg midfielder Bence Dardai, valued at €12 million. In attack, hopes rest on Galatasaray’s Roland Sallai, but he is out of form, having failed to score in four league matches.
In a June friendly, Hungary struggled to a 2-1 away win against minnows Azerbaijan. During the match, Hungary managed 27 shots but converted only two, highlighting their low attacking efficiency. Now, facing Ireland’s pressing tactics, Hungary is unlikely to have as many scoring opportunities. Overall, Ireland’s squad is more balanced across all lines, while Hungary relies on individual world-class talents. Considering football is a team sport that emphasizes coordination and collective effort, Ireland’s players are expected to synergize effectively and seize the opportunity to secure points at home.
Ireland’s Last 5 Games: DDWWL
25-06-11 Luxembourg 0-0 Ireland
25-06-07 Ireland 1-1 Senegal
25-03-24 Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria
25-03-21 Bulgaria 1-2 Ireland
24-11-18 England 5-0 Ireland
Hungary’s Last 5 Games: WLLLD
25-06-11 Azerbaijan 1-2 Hungary
25-06-07 Hungary 0-2 Sweden
25-03-24 Hungary 0-3 Turkey
25-03-21 Turkey 3-1 Hungary
24-11-20 Hungary 1-1 Germany
Head-To-Head Record
24-06-05 Ireland 2-1 Hungary
21-06-09 Hungary 0-0 Ireland
12-06-05 Hungary 0-0 Ireland
Prediction: Ireland to win or Draw