World Cup 2026: Selecao on the Verge

Portugal vs Hungary

Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier at the Estadio Jose Alvalade will potentially (depending on other results) be the game that seals Portugal’s place at next year’s World Cup 2026 in America.

For they are on the verge of qualification as they host Hungary in a Group F encounter.

Three wins from three have put them firmly in control of their group and just a few more World Cup qualifier highlights will surely see the great Cristiano Ronaldo, now aged 40, lead his nation on the biggest stage of all one final time.

 

Talking Points

When journalists talk and write about the great European international sides playing right now, the conversation doesn’t often stray beyond Spain or France.

But it must be remembered that it wasn’t the reigning European champions, Les Bleus, or even Germany who triumphed in the Nations League this summer.

No, it was Roberto Martinez’s men who sealed the silverware and they come into the contest fresh from a late show which broke the hearts of the Republic of Ireland on Saturday night.

That was a game they appeared to come out of without any fresh fitness concerns – Goncalo Inacio was taken off at half-time for Renato Veiga.

At the same time, Hungary were moving into second spot in the group with a 2-0 success over Armenia, despite the absence of experienced attackers Roland Sallai and Barnabas Varga through suspension.

Both are available for this game and it was the latter who scored twice against Portugal last month.

While welcome, that result was the first time in eight matches that Hungary had kept a clean sheet and was only their second victory in nine.

They have had their moments in recent years, but one suspects they will have to produce a much-improved showing if they are to cause a surprise in the Portuguese capital.

 

History

Last month they met on Hungarian soil and Portugal edged home in a five-goal contest.

Despite goals from Bernardo Silva and a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, the Magyars showed real character and Varga grabbed a double, only for Joao Cancelo to grab a winner two minutes after Varga had made it 2-2.

Their most recent meeting before that resulted in a comprehensive 3-0 Portuguese success at Euro 2020 (played in 2021) when the scoreline didn’t reflect the closeness of the contest.

For all three goals were scored in the final six minutes with Raphael Guerreiro opening the scoring before Ronaldo added a quickfire double, one from the penalty spot.

It was a match played at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest which, due to Covid-19 restrictions, was the only stadium allowed to open to full capacity during the group stages of the competition.

The nations also met at Euro 2016 – the year Portugal were crowned European champions – when Zoltan Gera opened the scoring with a powerful drive before Nani equalised from a Ronaldo pass.

In the second half, Hungary twice more took the lead through Balázs Dzsudzsak only for Ronaldo (who else) to draw Portugal level on both occasions, entering the record books as the first man to ever score at four European Championship finals.

They then met twice more in qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

Ronaldo scored twice in a 3-0 Portugal win in Lisbon and Andre Silva netted the only goal in the return fixture in Budapest.

In fact, Portugal have never lost to Hungary with 11 victories and four draws.

Aside from those recent European Championships, their only other meeting in a major tournament came at the 1966 World Cup at Old Trafford when Jose Augusto scored twice in a 3-1 success.

Inspired by the legendary Eusebio, Portugal went onto reach the semi-finals that year.

 

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP World Cup qualifier 2025 betting odds are almost as one-sided as they can be.

If Hungary do get something out of this, and if you are brave enough to back them, then a tidy pay day awaits.

They are priced 1X2 @ 9.00 and Asian Handicap +1.75 @ 2.05 in contrast to the hosts who are on offer 1X2 @ 1.22 and Asian Handicap -2.00 @ 2.13 amongst an assortment of bets.

The draw @ 5.80 is attractive, as is a repeat of last month’s 3-2 scoreline in favour of the Portuguese which will pay out with Correct Score @ 27.00.

Goal options range from over 3.50 @ 2.14 to total goal 0-1 @ 5.30, 2-3 @ 2.26 and 4-6 @ 2.35.

I am going for a Portugal victory which would potentially seal their place in the States next summer.

I think they will have to work hard for it though and my ** bet is Half Time Full Time Draw Home @ 4.61.

   

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