Ireland open their World Cup qualifying campaign against a team seeded above them, and whom they are expected to vie for second place in the group.
Hungary have only won one of their last six matches, but those have included games against Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.
Their wait to qualify for a World Cup is even longer than Ireland’s, with 1986 the last time they made the tournament proper, although they have reached the last three successive Euros.
There has been a sense of optimism in the Irish camp this week, though their positivity will be put to the test tonight.
It would be perhaps unfair to suggest a win is essential at this early stage of qualifying, but a defeat would be a significant blow and leave Ireland with a mountain to climb from the outset.
Kick-off at the Aviva Stadium is at 7.45pm.
6 Sep 2025
7:12PM
Confirmation of the Irish starting XI below…
STARTING XI | Ireland v Hungary
Ferguson, Szmodics & Azaz all start as Ireland kick-off the World Cup qualifying campaign at the Aviva Stadium tonight (KO 7:45pm) 🤩
A view of a banner at tonight's match. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
6 Sep 2025
7:56PM
10 mins: First half chance for Ireland.
O’Brien wins the ball down the right and delivers a low cross, but Azaz can’t really get hold of his first-time finish, and his effort is well off target.
6 Sep 2025
7:58PM
12 mins: Szmodics strides forward purposefully towards the area.
However, the Ipswich star drags his shot wide, which is met with loud groans heard around the stadium.
6 Sep 2025
8:00PM
13 mins: Varga almost doubles Hungary’s advantage.
Kerkez delivers a deep cross from the left, and the striker gets in behind Collins but can’t hit the target with his header.
Moments later, Hungary break and Kelleher does well to deal with a deflected low cross into the area by Bolla as the goalkeeper gets to the ball just ahead of Sallai.
As I type, Ferguson gets away from marker, before the Roma striker’s shot is saved by Dibusz.
Ireland came into it more as the game progressed and created a couple of half-chances.
But the hosts were ruthlessly punished for an error-ridden opening 15 minutes, with two well-taken goals.
You suspect Heimir Hallgrímsson will need to make a couple of attacking changes as he attempts to rescue this game and maintain the sense of pre-campaign optimism around the camp.
6 Sep 2025
8:39PM
Here’s a look at that incident involving Cullen that Ireland didn’t get a penalty for…
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As it happened: Ireland v Hungary, World Cup qualifier
Ireland 2-2 Hungary
Hello and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
Ireland open their World Cup qualifying campaign against a team seeded above them, and whom they are expected to vie for second place in the group.
Hungary have only won one of their last six matches, but those have included games against Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.
Their wait to qualify for a World Cup is even longer than Ireland’s, with 1986 the last time they made the tournament proper, although they have reached the last three successive Euros.
There has been a sense of optimism in the Irish camp this week, though their positivity will be put to the test tonight.
It would be perhaps unfair to suggest a win is essential at this early stage of qualifying, but a defeat would be a significant blow and leave Ireland with a mountain to climb from the outset.
Kick-off at the Aviva Stadium is at 7.45pm.
Confirmation of the Irish starting XI below…
And here’s how Hungary are expected to line out…
Who do you think will win tonight?
Poll Results:
Some fan pics ahead of the game…
We’re underway…
HUNGARY 1-0 IRELAND (VARGA 2)
Disastrous start for Ireland.
A cross into the area is only half cleared by Doherty.
The loose ball falls to Styles, whose hooked pass finds Varga, and the striker finishes clinically past Kelleher.
10 mins: First half chance for Ireland.
O’Brien wins the ball down the right and delivers a low cross, but Azaz can’t really get hold of his first-time finish, and his effort is well off target.
12 mins: Szmodics strides forward purposefully towards the area.
However, the Ipswich star drags his shot wide, which is met with loud groans heard around the stadium.
13 mins: Varga almost doubles Hungary’s advantage.
Kerkez delivers a deep cross from the left, and the striker gets in behind Collins but can’t hit the target with his header.
HUNGARY 2-0 IRELAND (SALLAI)
Hungary make it 2-0, and it’s hard to imagine a worse start for Ireland to this World Cup qualifying campaign.
It’s all too easy as Szoboszlai’s corner finds Sallai, whose well-executed header finds the far corner of the net.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
And here’s how Hungary made it 2-0…
23 mins: Hungary are playing with real confidence and looking to score more.
Styles has just fired a shot over from the edge of the area after a well-worked move.
25 mins: Ireland produce a rare enough attack.
Manning crosses into the area, Szmodics’ header keeps it allive — then Cullen and Styles both go for the header.
They collide inside the area, and predictably, the referee awards the free kick in favour of the visitors.
29 mins: Szoboszlai picks up the game’s first yellow card.
The Liverpool man is deservedly cautioned for cynically dragging back Jason Knight and preventing an Irish counter-attack.
36 mins: O’Brien’s cross is only half cleared.
It falls to Doherty on the edge of the area, but the Wolves man can’t hit the target with his low, first-time shot.
38 mins: This is a decent spell for Ireland.
Manning’s cross is met by Doherty’s tame header, which fails to trouble the goalkeeper.
But moments later, the Southampton man wins it back as Hungary attempt to counter.
He slips through Evan Ferguson, whose curled attempt from the edge of the area is wayward.
41 mins: Ireland have had six attempts on goal to Hungary’s four.
But the visitors have been far more clinical in the final third.
As I type, Ferguson gets booked for a late challenge on Orbán, after the striker fails to control a ball in his direction.
45 mins: Cullen’s crossfield ball finds O’Brien, whose header doesn’t trouble the goalkeeper.
Moments later, Hungary break and Kelleher does well to deal with a deflected low cross into the area by Bolla as the goalkeeper gets to the ball just ahead of Sallai.
As I type, Ferguson gets away from marker, before the Roma striker’s shot is saved by Dibusz.
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 0-2 HUNGARY
Boos greet the half-time whistle.
Ireland came into it more as the game progressed and created a couple of half-chances.
But the hosts were ruthlessly punished for an error-ridden opening 15 minutes, with two well-taken goals.
You suspect Heimir Hallgrímsson will need to make a couple of attacking changes as he attempts to rescue this game and maintain the sense of pre-campaign optimism around the camp.
Here’s a look at that incident involving Cullen that Ireland didn’t get a penalty for…
The second half has begun…
48 mins: Ireland counter through Jason Knight, who finds Evan Ferguson.
Szalai cynically takes him down as the striker runs towards goal.
IRELAND 1-2 HUNGARY (FERGUSON 49)
Manning’s free kick from the edge of the area is parried away by the goalkeeper.
Szmodics heads it back across goal. Collins prods it on and Ferguson is on hand to finish from close range in scrappy fashion.
It wasn’t pretty but the hosts will certainly take it.
Ireland are back in the game after a VAR check confirms there was no infringement.
RED CARD FOR HUNGARY’S SALLAI!
Sallai is sent off for a late challenge on O’Shea.
Cullen also gets booked for his reaction to the incident.
A Manning free kick finds Doherty but the Wolves man can’t find the target.
The visitors make a change as Tóth is replaced by Ötvös.
There’s a fervent atmosphere now and Ireland need to keep their calm.
As I type, Bolla goes through on goal, but his low shot is saved by Kelleher.
57 mins: Bolla has a shot at goal, but it’s off target.
Moments later, Manning’s header goes over the bar from Cullen’s cross.
Here’s a look at that straight red card…
63 mins: Azaz’s delivery is headed wide.
It appears to come off a Hungary player last but the referee awards a goal kick.
65 mins: O’Brien’s cross is headed behind by Nego.
This is a good spell for Ireland.
66 mins: O’Brien’s cross is headed over by Collins, who went close with another header moments earlier.
The hosts make a double change — Ogbene and Taylor are on in place of Doherty and Cullen.
Hungary also make a sub – Mocsi is on for Bolla.
69 mins: Ogbene heads down Manning’s cross, but Taylor fires it over the bar.
The attendance has just been announced as 50,137.
Here’s a look at Evan Ferguson’s sixth goal in 23 appearances for Ireland…
71 mins: Big chance for Azaz.
His header is saved by Dibusz, after Manning’s cross is headed across goal by Ogbene.
77 mins: Nego gets booked for taking down Szmodics as Ireland try to attack.
The Ipswich star is then replaced by Mikey Johnston, while Azaz also comes off for Adam Idah.
79 mins: Ireland win a free kick on the edge of the box.
Varga gets booked for taking down O’Shea.
It’s the attacker’s last act as he’s replaced by Tóth, while Kerkez also goes off for Nagy.
81 mins: Manning’s free kick is parried out for a corner.
Ireland are putting Hungary under serious pressure.
85 mins: Ireland haven’t created too many chances in the last few minutes.
The subs has disrupted the game’s momentum to an extent.
You still feel they could have at least one or two more big moments before the final whistle.
Ogbene wins a free kick on the right, a few yards outside the area.
This could be a big moment…
88 mins: Manning’s delivery finds Ferguson.
But the striker’s goalbound header deflects off O’Brien and goes out for a goal kick.
90 mins: McAteer replaces Knight.
There will be six minutes of stoppage time.
IRELAND 2-2 HUNGARY (IDAH 90)
90 mins: The Aviva erupts in celebration.
After patient build-up play, Manning crosses for Idah, who heads home emphatically.
Kelleher has been named the official player of the match.
I personally would have given it to Manning.
90 mins: The ball is prodded into the area by Manning.
But O’Shea heads just over.
Seconds remain and Ireland have a free kick…
FULL-TIME: IRELAND 2-2 HUNGARY
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