World Cup qualifiers 2026: Ireland-Hungary, likely lineups

At Dublin’Aviva Stadium the race toward the 2026 World Cup begins for the national teams of Ireland and Hungary, which are included in Group F that also includes fearsome Portugal and Armenia, the latter historically treacherous even for the top-ranked formations. For both, it is important to get off to the best possible start and put in their sights the first place, which leads directly to the final stage, or the second that sends instead to the play-offs.

Coaching the Irish national team is Iceland’s Heimir Hallgrimsson, who took over from John O’Shea (interim coach for the previous six months) in July 2024. Among the most interesting players is undoubtedly striker Evan Ferguson, whom Roma wanted to bet on this year as far as the offensive front is concerned.

On the other hand, there is still some talk’of Italy on the Hungarian bench, since at the helm, as has been the case since 2018, is Marco Rossi. The former player of, among others, Brescia and Sampdoria will be able to rely again on Dominik Szoboszlai, who has just started his third season in a Liverpool shirt: he will be tasked with inspiring the two strikers, Varga and Sallai.

Probable lineups

IRLAND (4-2-3-1): Bazunu; Doherty, Egan, Collins, Manning; Cullen, Smallbone; Ogbene, Knight, Browne; Ferguson. C.t. Hallgrimsson.

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HUNGARY (3-4-1-2): Dibusz; Lang, Orban, Szalai; Fiola, Styles, Nagy, Kerkez; Szoboszlai; Varga, Sallai. C.t. Rossi.