Hungary, home to one of football's greatest-ever teams — the 'Magical Magyars' of the 1950s led by Ferenc Puskás — again failed to qualify for a World Cup, continuing a drought stretching back to 1986. The contrast between Hungary's historical status (runners-up 1938, 1954) and their modern irrelevance at World Cups represents one of football's most dramatic declines.
| Appearances | 9 |
| Best Finish | Runners-up (1938, 1954) |
| Last Appearance | 1986 (group stage) |
| 2022 Result | Did not qualify |
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) represents Hungary's best current player — a technically gifted, energetic midfielder who brings top-level club quality to the national team, though unable to single-handedly drive Hungary to World Cup qualification in a competitive UEFA group.
Hungary's failure to qualify for FIFA 2026 extends a World Cup drought stretching to 1986 — nearly 40 years without a World Cup appearance for a nation that once had the greatest team on earth. Under Italian manager Marco Rossi, Hungary have shown improvement at European Championships (reaching the knockout rounds at Euro 2024), but translating this into World Cup qualification remains elusive in a demanding UEFA format. Szoboszlai's Liverpool form suggests individual quality is present; the collective system to maximise it at qualifying level remains a work in progress.
Hungarian fans can follow Dominik Szoboszlai closely — at Liverpool, he competes against players from multiple FIFA 2026 nations (England's Jude Bellingham via Real Madrid, etc.) at club level. The Puskás Award (given annually by FIFA to the best goal of the year, named for Hungary's legendary striker) also provides an ongoing Hungarian football connection to the global game.
Follow FIFA 2026 on T Sports and Sony Sports in Bangladesh. Szoboszlai at Liverpool and other Hungarian internationals across European leagues provide ongoing connections to their national team's story.