2026-2027 Nations League: Northern Ireland vs. Hungary, Probable Lineups

Fresh off an unexpected victory on Georgia’s home turf, Northern Ireland is now counting on the support of its home crowd—which is always strong when it comes to cheering on the Northern Irish national team—to upset Hungary as well, even though the Hungarians are determined to put their 0-1 home loss to Ukraine behind them. The match, part of the second round of the 2026–2027 Nations League (League B, Group 2), will kick off at 8:45 p.m. Italian time at Windsor Park in Belfast.

A far cry from the glories of the past and the era of the inimitable George Best, Northern Ireland has never lost its passion for soccer nor the identity of its national team, which—unlike other sports such as soccer and cricket—does not form a single team together with the Republic of Ireland. In the Nations League, the Green & White Army has regained a spot in League B after two editions in “Series C”: the minimum goal is to avoid relegation, but the victory on the first matchday has fans dreaming of something more.

Hungary, on the other hand, appears to be on the downward slope of a fairly positive run that saw the Hungarian national team qualify for two consecutive European Championships, in 2020 (played in 2021 due to the pandemic) and in 2024. This is further evidenced by their disappointing relegation from League A of the Nations League at the end of the 2024–2025 season: Head coach Marco Rossi, an Italian, still has the confidence of the local federation, but the former defender—who played for Catanzaro, Brescia, and Sampdoria, among others—is expected to lead a rapid climb back up the ranks.

Probable Lineups

NORTHERN IRELAND (3-4-3): P. Charles; Atcheson, McNair, Brown; Hume, S. Charles, Galbraith, Devenny; Kelly, Donley, Price. Head Coach: O’Neill.

HUNGARY (4-3-1-2): Toth; Bolla, Orban, Csinger, Kerkez; Vitalis, Csongvai, Schafer; Szoboszlai; Redzic, Lukacs. Head Coach: Rossi.