15mins Corner for Hungary.
13mins Could easily be 2-0. Great cross from the left by Liverpool’s Milos Kerkez but Barnabas Varga heads the ball into the ground and wide of the back post. Let off for the hosts.
12mins Sammie Szmodics, who could’ve played for Hungary, is urged to shoot from distance by the fans. Bad decision, he drags it harmlessly wide of the target.
11mins Nice, easy pass by Josh Cullen out to the right but the fans seemed to think he was taking too long, too slow.
10mins Chance for Ireland. Jake O’Brien does well down the right, beats his man but his cross is a little awkward for the on running Finn Azaz to direct goalwards. Better from the home side.
8mins Hungary on the attack, fans getting a little nervous now. Vocal Hungary fans in the corner are having a great time.
5mins Ireland fans trying their best to lift the side after that early goal.
President of the GAA Jarlath Burns in attendance/ Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
3mins Worst possible start for Ireland. Doherty’s header is knocked back into the box. Doherty is playing Varga well onside and he blasts it into the roof of the net.
GOAL FOR HUNGARY!
2mins
John Fallon: Heimir Hallgrímsson’s preference for Ryan Manning further up the pitch influenced the decision to fill the left-back place created by Robbie Brady’s absence with Matt Doherty. Granted, he’s a right-footer but has switched flanks in his club career, less so Ireland, and his experience can a vital commodity.
The two ‘sixes’, as the manager and his assistant Paddy McCarthy, branded the holding midfielders will be filled by Josh Cullen and Jason Knight. Their role in smothering the threat of Dominik Szoboszlai will be critical.
Republic of Ireland supporters protest against Israel during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F qualifying match between Republic of Ireland and Hungary at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
1min Ireland kicking from right to left in the first half, meaning they’ll attack their main end in the second.
KICK OFF!
7.44pm The Wild Rover now ringing around the stadium. That’s new.
7.42pm A big show Israel the red card is unfurled in the home end after the anthems. Along with a lot of red cards.
7.41pm Time for the anthems.
7.39pm The teams are coming out onto the pitch. Nearly time for kick-off.
7.38pm It’s like a teenage disco in here at the moment. For more, check out our Instagram page.
7.34pm Loud roars of approval as Evan Ferguson’s name is read out. Team news can be found on the link below.
7.33pm Loud boos as Szoboszlai and Kerkez’s names are read out over the PA, for some reason.
7.31pm Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix both struck twice as the visitors brushed aside Armenia 5-0.
For the full match report, click here.
7.27pm Hungary have returned to the dressing room. Ireland still taking shots. Sammie Szmodics has just buried one in the far corner, followed by a rendition of ‘Come on you boys in green!’
7.20pm Both teams are out doing the warm-ups. Dominik Szoboszlai has just scored an absolute beauty from distance. His second this week!
7.19pm After a long elevator ride and after solving some wifi issues, we’re back in business.
6.51pm Time to get the elevator up to my seat in the press box. The glamour. Regular updates to come shortly so stay tuned.
6.46pm The atmosphere was quite good between the two sets of fans in the lead up to kick-off.
6.30pm And a little earlier than expected, here is the Ireland team news.
6.15pm Welcome one and all to our liveblog on a huge night for Irish football.
My name is Andrew Horgan and I am currently in the press room at the Aviva stadium, along with former Hungary and Liverpool goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualification opener against Hungary.
With Portugal 4-0 up away to Armenia (at the time of writing), this fixture could be decisive in determining who finishes second in the group, at least, and secure a playoff spot to reach the finals in America, Mexico and Canada next summer.
Anyway, kick off is an hour and a half away yet so before then feel free to read some of the best preview pieces from our website below.
Dion Fanning: Ireland longing for a golden era while also trying to escape the past.