Portugal continue their push for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification with a trip to Hungary on September 9.
Roberto Martinez’s team kicked off their Group F campaign in style with a dominant 5-0 win away in Armenia over the weekend.
Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo in Yerevan capped a superb performance from Portugal and extended the 40-year-old’s lead at the top of the all-time male international goal-scorers list.
Hungary stumbled in their opening qualifier after being held to a 2-2 draw against the Republic of Ireland.
Marco Rossi’s side led 2-0 at the break in Dublin, but a stirring second-half response from the hosts saw them claim a draw via Adam Idah’s added time header.
MORE: Updated list of teams qualified for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Hungary vs. Portugal lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, rosters
Rossi will be forced into at least one starting change at home to Portugal with Roland Sallai suspended following a red card at the Aviva Stadium.
Veteran midfielder Zsolt Nagy looks set to come in as a replacement with Liverpool pair Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez both remaining as starters.
Hungary predicted starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Dibusz (GK) — Nego, Orban, A. Szalai, Kerkez — Styles, Szoboszlai, Nagy — Bolla, Varga, B. Toth
Hungary full roster
Goalkeepers: Denes Dibusz, Balazs Toth, Peter Szappanos
Defenders: Attila Osvath, Attila Mocsi, Attila Szalai, Gabor Szalai, Willi Orban, Loic Negy, Miilos Kerkez, Bendeguz Bolla, Marton Dardai
Midfielders: Zsolt Nagy, Milan Vitalis, Dominik Szoboszlai, Callum Styles, Alex Toth, Bence Otvos, Andras Schafer, Aron Csongvai, Bence Dardai
Forwards: Barna Toth, Zsombor Gruber, Daniel Lukacs, Barnabas Varga, Roland Sallai, Rajmund Molnar.
Martinez is expected to tweak his starting lineup due to the quick turnaround in flying from Yerevan to Budapest.
This clash could be definitive in the race for a World Cup spot and Ronaldo will likely keep his starting place due to his importance to the Portugal attack.
Bernardo Silva could be amongst the changes after remaining on the bench in Armenia, with Joao Palhinha also an option to strengthen the midfield.
Portugal predicted starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Costa (GK) — Cancelo, Dias, Inacio, Semedo — Palhinha, Vitinha — B. Silva, Fernandes, Neto — Ronaldo
Portugal full roster
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Rui Silva, Jose Sa
Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Inacio, Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva, Renato Veiga
Midfielders: Joao Palhinha, Ruben Neves, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Goncalves, Bernardo Silva
Forwards: Joao Felix, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Pedro Neto, Goncalo Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Hungary vs. Portugal match details
- Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
- Kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT / 4:45 a.m. AEST (Sep. 10)
- Location: Puskas Arena, Budapest (Hungary)
- Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
- Referee: Erik Lambrechts (BEL)
