WORLD CUP BETTING PREVIEW - PORTUGAL VS HUNGARY

World Cup

2025-10-14 - Portugal vs Hungary

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

Portugal v Hungary
Football: World Cup Qualifier
Tuesday 14th October 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV

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Portugal

There are a number of nations in the UEFA Confederation who are hoping to secure their place at the World Cup Finals by the end of Match Day 8 of the Qualifiers. One of those looking to do that is the current Nations League Champions, Portugal, who scored a late goal to beat Republic of Ireland on Saturday to take complete control of this section.

Three games have been played and Portugal have put up maximum points, which leaves them 5 points clear of Hungary in 2nd place. A victory over the visiting Hungarian team and Armenia failing to win in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland would secure Portugal a spot at the World Cup Finals, although the only focus for the team and the staff is making sure they win this game.

Portugal deserved to beat Republic of Ireland and were even able to miss a Penalty before securing the victory, and that means they have also won 5 of their last 6 games in all competitions. That victory also means Portugal have won their last 6 games at home.

Hungary

By next summer it will be forty years since Hungary last played at the World Cup Finals, but this is a much improved national team and they have reached the continental Finals in three straight tournaments. The team did lose their status as a League A Nations League competitor when being thumped by Turkiye in the Relegation Play Off in March, but Hungary have got back on track in this World Cup Qualifying Group.

Chasing down Portugal looks impossible when you think Hungary have already dropped five points in this section, but the 2-0 win over Armenia has moved them back into 2nd place. There is work to do in order for Hungary to secure a Play Off spot for the World Cup Finals, but that victory over Armenia on Saturday will have provided the squad with a boost in confidence.

Hungary had won 1 of their previous 8 games in all competitions and they were struggling against Armenia before finally breaking them down in a 2-0 home win. They were leading Republic of Ireland 0-2 inside 15 minutes earlier in this Group, but Hungary were pegged back in a 2-2 draw. Prior to that away game, Hungary had lost 3 of 4 away games in the Nations League at Germany, Netherlands and Turkiye.

Both Roland Sallai and Barnabas Varga missed the win over Armenia as they served a suspension, but both are available to travel to Portugal.

Head to Head

A back and forth game between Hungary and Portugal in Budapest ended 2-3 in favour of the away team last month.

Portugal have won 8 of the last 9 meetings between the nations.

Each of the last 3 Portugal home games against Hungary have ended 3-0 in favour of the hosts with the most recent being played in March 2017.

Prediction

The 1-0 scoreline was not nearly a reflection of the dominant Portugal performance against Republic of Ireland and the home team should have too much for this Hungary team.

Portugal will have picked up a lot of confidence by winning the Nations League and they showed off the attacking depth that is available to manager Roberto Martinez.

The majority of the attacking football will be played by Portugal, but they will have a respect for a Hungary team that gave as good as they got when the teams met in Budapest last month.

Ultimately Portugal still came through with a 2-3 win to continue the dominance of this opponent.

And they will have noted that Hungary have simply not been a very good traveller over the last fourteen months with big defeats in Germany, Netherlands and Turkiye on the record. Hungary conceded at least three goals in each of those losses and they were simply not as competitive as they would have liked to have been in those defeats.

If they are to fall behind early in this one, Hungary could struggle to contain the wave of Portugal attacks that are expected throughout this Qualifier. The away team would likely settle for a point before kick off, but they are expected to struggle to keep the hosts from getting on top and Portugal can win by a couple of goals on the night.

The Pick :

Portugal 3-1 Hungary

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Portugal - 1.5 Asian Handicap at 1.64 with SportBet.One