Portugal will face Hungary tonight in their Group F matchup at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. With a chance to take a major step toward qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026. A win could see them secure their ticket to North America, depending on other results.
Welcome to Sportss.info, the place where true fans meet the heart of sports. We bring you fresh updates, inspiring stories, and insights from the world’s biggest games and hidden gems alike. From the roar of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to the spirit of the Olympics, every moment is covered with passion and clarity.
With just three matches remaining, Portugal sits comfortably at the top of the group, five points clear of their nearest challengers. That means tonight’s clash could be the night Roberto Martínez’s men officially confirm their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Their qualification would be guaranteed if they defeat Hungary and Armenia lose to the Republic of Ireland.
All signs suggest that Portugal’s progress won’t be delayed much longer. Although Saturday’s narrow victory broke their streak of five consecutive matches scoring two or more goals. The 2016 European champions have still enjoyed a superb run, winning five and drawing one of their last six fixtures across all competitions.
In that recent 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, Cristiano Ronaldo failed to convert from the penalty spot. When Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher guessed correctly and saved his effort down the middle.
Despite the miss, a late strike from Ruben Neves ensured Portugal walked away with all three points, leaving them just one win away from sealing FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification. Ronaldo is still expected to start tonight despite his missed penalty and advancing age.
FIFA 2026: Portugal Target Fourth Straight Qualifying Win
As Portugal’s all-time top scorer, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be eager to make amends and add to his tally in front of the home crowd. Tonight’s match offers him a perfect opportunity for redemption after missing a crucial spot-kick that could have given his team a more comfortable lead against Ireland.
Portugal will be aiming for their fourth consecutive win in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign when it hosts Hungary in Lisbon. The previous encounter between these two sides, held in Budapest just over a month ago, was a thriller. Joao Cancelo’s 86th-minute goal secured a 3-2 victory for the Seleção after a tense battle.
Portugal has dominated Hungary historically, winning nine of their ten competitive meetings and drawing the other. Six of those victories have come with clean sheets, underlining the Seleçao’s superiority.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, has a strong personal record against Hungary, having scored seven goals in his last five matches versus the Magyars. His scoring streak ended against Ireland, however, when he hit the post early and later saw his penalty saved by Kelleher.
In their last meeting, Hungary took the lead through Barnabás Varga, but Bernardo Silva equalized before Ronaldo’s penalty gave Portugal the advantage. Varga struck again late to level the score, only for Cancelo to clinch the win two minutes later with a stunning goal. Against Ireland last weekend, Portugal controlled the match from start to finish.
FIFA World Cup: Portugal Eye Another Step Toward Qualification
Ronaldo struck the post early and Bernardo Silva missed the rebound, while substitute Francisco Trincao later won the penalty that Ronaldo couldn’t convert. Despite the missed chances, Rúben Neves’ late goal proved decisive.
Hungary, on the other hand, began its World Cup qualifying campaign strongly. Varga and Roland Sallai both scored early to give them a 2-0 lead over Ireland in Dublin. However, after Sallai’s red card early in the second half, they conceded twice, including a stoppage-time equalizer to finish 2-2.
When they faced Portugal, Varga once again opened the scoring, equalized late on, but Hungary ultimately fell short, losing 3-2 after conceding in the 86th minute. After Portugal’s hard-fought win over Ireland, head coach Roberto Martinez praised his team’s mentality and defensive organization,
It was the game we expected.
Ireland was much improved after their last performance and came out strong, but we stayed composed and focused. We didn’t panic, and we controlled the game well without the ball. We created chances, had nine corners to their zero, FIFA World Cup 2026, and they didn’t register a single shot on target.
We showed great resilience and discipline. It was a tough but well-deserved victory. Portugal will look to tighten their hold on the top spot in Group F of the UEFA World Cup qualifiers. When they take on the winless Republic of Ireland in Lisbon on Saturday. Earlier this year, the Portuguese side captured the UEFA Nations League title impressively.
At Sportss.info, we bring you more than just scores and stats. You’ll find the latest sports news, real stories, and moments that truly matter to fans everywhere. From global tournaments to the rise of new athletes, our goal is to keep you close to the action that excites and inspires.