Hungary vs Portugal
World Cup qualifying has begun for every nation now and, while some are late starters, the prize at the end is the same – a place at the 23rd World Cup 2026 in America next summer.
While there is no bigger carrot in international football, only one team can top Group F and, with the greatest of respects to the Republic of Ireland and Armenia, it isn’t going to be one of them.
As they prepare to meet in Budapest, that leaves Portugal (ranked sixth in the world) or Hungary (ranked 38th).
Talking Points
Both nations were in action at the weekend.
Portugal were 5-0 winners in Armenia in what was an emotional occasion as the national team’s first match since the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota.
It was a game in which talisman Cristiano Ronaldo – now 40 would you believe – and Joao Felix netted twice with Joao Cancelo grabbing the other.
At the same time, Hungary were being pegged back by Ireland in their opening qualifier.
They had outplayed their hosts in the first half and were two goals to the good through Barnabas Varga and a header from Roland Sallai.
Yet when the latter was dismissed with the scoreline at 1-2, the game swung and Hungary conceded a stoppage time header as the game finished all square in Dublin.
That means all the onus is on the home side to deliver World Cup qualifying 2025 highlights or risk falling behind early on in the Group F standings.
Hungary have actually only won one their past five competitive matches, including back-to-back defeats to Turkey in the Nations League play-offs. They did edge out Azerbaijan in a June friendly, but consistency remains their biggest challenge.
Portugal, meanwhile, are on a high after winning the Nations League in June with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Spain.
With an unbeaten run stretching across competitive fixtures, Roberto Martínez’s men arrive in Budapest as one of Europe’s most in-form sides.
Skipper Ronaldo remains central to the attack with Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva (an unused substitute on Saturday night) supplying the creativity and goals from midfield.
I expect Gonçalo Inácio and Rúben Dias to anchor the defence once again, providing the Portuguese with a blend of experience and balance across the pitch.
They also have a Champions League winning trio in their ranks in the shape of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes.
Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot withdrew from the squad on Friday due to muscle discomfort.
As for Hungary, captain Dominik Szoboszlai is the focal point in midfield and Varga provides a physical presence up front, but the dangerous Sallai will be suspended.
Underrated manager Marco Rossi is expected to set his team up in a compact shape, hoping to hit Portugal on the counter.
History
While their most recent meeting resulted in a comprehensive 3-0 Portuguese success at Euro 2020 (played in 2021), the scoreline didn’t reflect the closeness of the contest.
For all three goals were scored in the final six minutes with Raphael Guerreiro opening the scoring before Ronaldo added a quickfire double, one from the penalty spot.
It was a match played at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest which, due to Covid-19 restrictions, was the only stadium allowed to open to full capacity during the group stages of the competition.
The nations also met at Euro 2016 – the year Portugal were crowned European champions – when Zoltan Gera opened the scoring with a powerful drive before Nani equalised from a Ronaldo pass.
In the second half, Hungary twice more took the lead through Balazs Dzsudzsak only for Ronaldo (who else) to draw Portugal level on both occasions, entering the record books as the first man to ever score at four European Championship finals.
They then met twice more in qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
Ronaldo scored twice in a 3-0 Portugal win in Lisbon and Andre Silva netted the only goal in the return fixture in Budapest.
In fact, Portugal have never lost to Hungary with 10 victories and four draws.
Aside from those recent European Championships, their only other meeting in a major tournament came at the 1966 World Cup at Old Trafford when Jose Augusto scored twice in a 3-1 success.
Inspired by the legendary Eusebio, Portugal went on to reach the semi-finals that year.
Betting Tip
Portugal are head and shoulders above their hosts when it comes to current form and that is reflected in the SBOTOP World Cup qualifying 2025 betting odds.
The Magyars are priced 1X2 @ 5.60 and Asian Handicap + 1.00 @ 2.02, compared to Portugal 1X2 @ 1.47 and Asian Handicap – 1.25 @ 2.14. I am tempted to edge towards Portugal but I am actually going to opt for a 1X2 draw @ 4.03 as my *** tip.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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