Preview:Hungary vs Portugal - prediction, team news, lineups

Portugal will be aiming to make it successive wins at the start of their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign when they travel to Hungary in Group F on Tuesday night.

Roberto Martinez's side opened their campaign with a 5-0 victory over Armenia to move to the top of the section, while the hosts played out a 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland last time out.

Match preview

Hungary led 2-0 against the Republic of Ireland inside 15 minutes last time out, with Barnabas Varga and Roland Sallai both on the scoresheet, but the home side fought back to claim a point, with Adam Idah netting the game's fourth goal in the third minute of additional time at the end of the 90.

National Eleven have famously twice been runners-up at the World Cup, with that occurring in 1938 and 1954, while they also reached the quarter-finals in 1962 and 1966.

Hungary have not managed to qualify for the finals of the competition since 1986, though, so there is plenty on the line in this qualification campaign.

The national side have competed in the finals of the last three European Championships, failing to make it out of the group stage in 2020 and 2024, and it will be tough to finish ahead of Portugal in this section.

The Selecao have won 10 and drawn four of their previous 14 matches against Hungary throughout history, with their first contest dating back to December 1926, while it was 3-0 to Portugal in their last meeting in June 2021.

Portugal hardly needed to break a sweat in their section opener with Armenia on Saturday evening, with Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo hitting braces, while Joao Cancelo was also on the scoresheet.

Selecao das Quinas were eliminated in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, which went down as a disappointment considering the quality in their squad, while they also went out in the last eight of the 2022 World Cup.

Portugal have never won the World Cup, with their best performance in the competition coming in 1966, when they finished third. Since then, they have notably been fourth in 2006 and as mentioned, quarter-finalists in 2022.

It would be some story if Ronaldo could lead the national side to World Cup glory next summer, and while Portugal will be outsiders, there is enough quality in their squad to advance deep into the competition.

The 2016 European champions are also two-time Nations League winners, claiming the trophy earlier this year, and they are now on a run of four straight wins in all competitions.

Hungary World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

Hungary form (all competitions):

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Portugal World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

Portugal form (all competitions):

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Team News

Hungary will have to work around the absence of Roland Sallai on Tuesday, with the 28-year-old suspended following his red card in the early stages of the second period against the Republic of Ireland.

Barna Toth could be the player to benefit, with the number nine in line for a spot in the starting side.

Dominik Szoboszlai has made an excellent start to the season for Liverpool, and the 24-year-old will continue in the middle of the Hungarian midfield against Martinez's side.

As for Portugal, head coach Martinez could make just the one change to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Armenia, with Bernardo Silva in line to return to the XI.

Bernardo could take the place of Pedro Neto, as Felix hit a brace last time out, with the former Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea attacker excelling down the left.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, made it an incredible 140 goals for the national side with a brace against Armenia, and there should again be a spot in the final third of the field for the 40-year-old.

Hungary possible starting lineup:

Dibusz; Nego, Orban, Szalai, Kerkez; Styles; Bolla, A Toth, Szoboszlai, B Toth; Vargas

Portugal possible starting lineup:

Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Inacio, Mendes; J Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes; B Silva, Ronaldo, Felix

We say: Hungary 1-2 Portugal

Hungary have a lot of quality in their side, and we are expecting this to be a very close match, with a draw certainly possible, but Portugal's firepower should see them claim a vital three points on Tuesday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.