On Saturday, Hungary will face Armenia in a crucial World Cup qualifier at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. This match marks only their second meeting, with Hungary winning the first encounter 2-0 in a friendly back in February 2004.
Hungary’s Struggles in World Cup Qualifying
Hungary is currently searching for its first victory in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. They have only managed to secure one point from their first two matches, facing tough opponents like the Republic of Ireland and Portugal. In their opening match against Ireland, they squandered a two-goal lead, finishing in a 2-2 draw. Subsequently, they suffered a narrow 3-2 loss to Portugal, with Joao Cancelo scoring a late winner.
Ranked 41st in the FIFA World Rankings, Hungary has struggled recently, winning merely two of their last twelve matches across all competitions. Head coach Marco Rossi acknowledges the challenge posed by Armenia, despite their lower ranking. Hungary has not won any of their last six home matches, suffering three defeats and recording three draws.
Armenia’s Recent Performance
Armenia will enter the match as underdogs. They are placed 62nd in the FIFA rankings and have won only one of their last twelve away matches, facing seven defeats. However, the team recently ended a five-match winless streak by defeating the Republic of Ireland 2-1 after losing heavily to Portugal 5-0.
Armenia captain Tigran Barseghyan has voiced the team’s intent to fight fiercely on the pitch. Armenia has yet to qualify for any major international tournament since gaining independence and will strive to secure consecutive victories for the first time since June 2023. They currently sit two points clear of Hungary and Ireland in Group F.
Team News and Expected Lineups
Hungary will miss the services of suspended forwards Roland Sallai and Barnabas Varga, placing additional pressure on their attacking options. Coach Rossi may opt for Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai in a central forward position, supported by Zsolt Nagy and Bendeguz Bolla from the flanks.
On the Armenian side, winger Edgar Sevikyan has withdrawn from the squad due to injury. Playmaker Lucas Zelarayan’s participation is uncertain, as he joined the camp just before the match. Eduard Spertsyan, Armenia’s leading scorer, is likely to feature in midfield along with Ugochukwu Iwu and possibly Zelarayan.
Possible Starting Lineups
| Hungary | Armenia |
|---|---|
| Dibusz | Cancarevic |
| Nego | Hovhannisyan |
| Orban | Mkrtchyan |
| Szalai | Piloyan |
| Kerkez | Muradyan |
| A. Toth | Tiknizyan |
| Schafer | Spertsyan |
| Styles | Iwu |
| Bolla | Zelarayan |
| Szoboszlai | Ranos |
| Z. Nagy | Barseghyan |
Match Prediction
El-Balad predicts a close contest, with Hungary securing a narrow 2-1 victory over Armenia. Despite missing key players, Hungary’s attacking talent should provide an edge against an Armenian side that has shown defensive vulnerabilities.
