It won't be an easy ride.
The Hungarian national football team was placed in the same group as the winner of the Portugal-Denmark Nations League quarter-final, as well as Ireland and Armenia in the European qualifying series of the 2026 World Cup.
Six five- and six four-team groups were formed at Friday's draw in Zürich, the first-placed ones from these get to the sport's biggest team competition, while the second-placed ones can continue to fight for participation in the additional qualifiers.
The Hungarians will play their World Cup qualifying matches in the fall, and in March they will have a back-and-forth classification duel with the Turks in the League of Nations, to stay at the top.
The Hungarian national team has not qualified for the World Cup since 1986.
The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 national teams in the United States, Mexico and Canada instead of the previous 32.
MTI
Cover photo: The players of the Hungarian national team take the field before the match between Hungary and the Netherlands in Group 3 of the League of Nations A.
Source: MTI/Róbert Hegedüs
