Ireland vs Hungary Prediction: Boys in Green can secure a result

The Republic of Ireland host Hungary at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (19:45 BST, Prime Video) as they get their Fifa World Cup qualifying campaigns underway. They are in a group also featuring Portugal and Armenia, so a place in the top two looks probable for one of these two sides.

Below you will find my Ireland vs Hungary predictions, aided by the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Troy Parrott, who has scored 10 goals in seven games for AZ Alkmaar at the start of this season, has been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury. New Swansea City signing Adam Idah could therefore spearhead the hosts' attack, alongside Roma loanee Evan Ferguson.

Boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has been boosted by the return of goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, while attacker Chiedozie Ogbene also makes a comeback for the first time since October 2024 following his recovery from a long-term Achilles issue.

Bosun Lawal and Celtic forward Johnny Kenny have both been handed their first senior call-ups and could make their international debuts on Saturday although they are both likely to start the game on the bench.

Football Odds

Daniel Lukacs, Rajmund Molnar, Barna Toth, and Bence Otvos are four uncapped players who have been called up by Hungary boss Marco Rossi.

Liverpool duo Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez are both expected to start in midfield and defence respectively - of the 54 goals scored by players in Rossi’s squad, 16 of those (29.6%) have been scored by captain Szoboszlai, who has had an excellent start to the season with Liverpool.

Experienced centre-back Willi Orban is expected to be named in the starting lineup, as is striker Barnabas Varga, who has been in great scoring form for Ferencvaros at the start of the 2025/26 season.

Ireland vs Hungary Odds

Ireland have won two of their last three home games and they are 13/8 to come out on top on Saturday.

The Boys in Green have drawn their previous two fixtures and the stalemate is priced at 21/10.

Hungary won their last outing against Azerbaijan and they are 15/8 to come away with the three points.

Three of Ireland's previous four games have seen both teams get on the scoresheet and BTTS is marketed at 10/11.

Ireland or draw and both teams to score @ 8/5

Ireland know that if they are to have a productive qualifying campaign they will need to a strong force at home. This will be a tough game for them to begin with as Hungary have players with individual quality who can hurt them.

What goes in Ireland's favour here is that they are unbeaten in their previous three encounters with Hungary, including a 2-1 victory in the last meeting which came here in June 2024.

Three of the last six head-to-heads between the two teams have also ended in a goalless draw. As well as this, Hungary have lost four of their previous six matches have ended in defeat. So I think at the very least, Ireland can get a point from this game.

The Boys in Green have also won two of their past three home games in all competitions, so they may even be in a position to inflict another defeat on the visitors. I have boosted the odds by adding BTTS because it has struck in three of Ireland's last four matches.

Barnabas Varga anytime goalscorer @ 23/10

Parrott is going to be a big miss for Ireland in this contest and he would have made a shrewd selection for a goalscorer in this fixture. Good job that there's a good alternative in Hungary's Varga, who heads into this international break in fine form.

The striker has scored 10 goals in 11 appearances for Ferencvaros at the start of the 2025/25 season, with six of them coming in the Uefa Champions League. The forward was also on the scoresheet in Hungary's last fixture against Azerbaijan, so he will head to Dublin with plenty of momentum behind him.

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