The Republic of Ireland fought back from an early deficit to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against Hungary in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. The result extends Ireland’s unbeaten run against the Magyarok to seven matches.
The game started disastrously for Ireland as Hungary took the lead just two minutes in with a goal from Barnabás Varga. Things went from bad to worse on the quarter-hour mark when Roland Sallai headed in a corner to double Hungary’s advantage. Despite a few attempts from Finn Azaz and Sammie Szmodics, Ireland struggled to find their rhythm.
However, the second half saw a complete shift in momentum. Four minutes after the restart, Evan Ferguson scored for Ireland, reigniting hope among the home fans. The atmosphere was further energized just four minutes later when Sallai was sent off for a reckless charge on Dara O’Shea.
With a man advantage, Ireland’s pressure became relentless. They finally secured their hard-earned equalizer in the 93rd minute when Adam Isah headed home a cross from Ryan Manning. The point is a huge boost for Ireland’s hopes of reaching their first World Cup finals since 2002, while it was a blow for Hungary.
