The stakes will be high on Sunday when Hungary and the Republic of Ireland square off in the final Group F game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Puskás Aréna.
With just three points separating group leaders Portugal and third-placed Ireland, this weekend’s group finale is a must-win for both sides in their quest for a spot in next year’s global tournament.
Hungary secured three crucial points in their push for World Cup qualification on Tuesday, securing a 1-0 victory over Armenia at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium. Marco Rossi’s men have gone unbeaten in four of their five qualifying games, recording two wins and two draws while scoring nine goals and conceding seven.
Currently, Hungary sit second in Group F with eight points from a possible 15, just two points behind first-placed Portugal and one point above this weekend’s visitors, the Republic of Ireland.
Meanwhile, Ireland kept their hopes alive of reaching their first World Cup since 2002 by securing an impressive 2-0 victory over Portugal on home soil last Tuesday. Prior to that, Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men managed just one point from their first three games in Group F but bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Armenia on October 14.
The Republic of Ireland will be confident heading into this weekend’s clash, having remained unbeaten in the last seven encounters with Hungary since 1969.
### Hungary vs Republic of Ireland: Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
Hungary hold a slight advantage historically, having won four of the last 14 meetings between the two teams. The Republic of Ireland have claimed three wins in that time, while seven matches ended in draws.
Notably, Ireland are unbeaten in their last seven games against Hungary, securing three wins and four draws since a 4-0 defeat back in November 1969.
On the home front, Hungary have struggled recently, failing to win five of their last six competitive home games. During that run, they have lost twice and drawn three since September 2024.
### Match Prediction
Given the high stakes of Sunday’s tie, both Hungary and Ireland are expected to go all out at the Puskás Aréna. It’s a challenging fixture to predict, as defeat would be damaging to either side’s qualification hopes. However, we are tipping Hungary to make the most of their home advantage.
**Prediction:** Hungary 2-1 Republic of Ireland
### Betting Tips
– **Tip 1: Result** – Hungary to win
– **Tip 2: First to score** – Hungary (The hosts have opened the scoring in their last six matches)
– **Tip 3: Over 4.5 cards** – No (There have been fewer than five bookings in four of Hungary’s last five games)
Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting and decisive encounter in Group F!
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/hungary-vs-republic-ireland-prediction-betting-tips-november-16th-2025
