Budapest without the World Cup, but full of intrigue: prediction for Hungary vs Finland - 05.06.2026
This Friday, the Puskás Aréna in Budapest will host a friendly where Hungary take on Finland. Both teams missed out on a place at the World Cup, so instead of a warm-up for the big stage, this sparring session is all about seeing who can shake off qualification heartbreak quicker.
Hungary: 96th-minute heartbreak and the start of a new cycle
Hungary will once again watch the World Cup from the sidelines, the pain especially raw after their dramatic qualifying finale, where Marco Rossi’s side let a playoff spot slip through their fingers. In the decisive clash with Ireland, the Hungarians fought to the end but conceded twice late on - including a crushing goal in the 96th minute - to lose 2-3 at home.
Despite rumors of resignation, Rossi remains at the helm, and with a contract running until 2030, these friendlies mark the start of a long rebuild. In March, Hungary already looked more organized: they beat Slovenia 1-0 and drew 0-0 with Greece. Against Finland, the leadership mantle should once again fall to Dominik Szoboszlai.
Finland: Friis’ men searching for stability after German rout
Finland also fell short of World Cup qualification, extending their historic drought at the finals. They finished third in their group behind the Netherlands and Poland, with a particularly painful home slip against Malta - a 0-1 defeat on the final matchday.
After qualifying, Jakob Friis has had a mixed bag of friendlies: Finland beat Andorra 4-0 and New Zealand 2-0, but lost to Cape Verde on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and were recently thrashed 0-4 by Germany. Against such a backdrop, the trip to Budapest will test not only their defense but the team’s character as well.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Hungary are unbeaten in their last two games: a 1-0 win over Slovenia and a 0-0 draw with Greece.
- Finland have won just five of their last 21 internationals over nearly two years.
- Hungary beat Finland 2-0 in their most recent meeting, with the Finns claiming just two wins in their last 11 encounters with the Magyars.
Prediction
Hungary aren’t always convincing at home, but right now they have more to offer: a stable coaching staff, a strong midfield core, and the Puskás Aréna factor - where the team will be eager to respond after their qualification setback. If Rossi fields a near-full-strength side, the hosts should have the edge in tempo and quality between the lines.
Finland can be a tough nut to crack thanks to discipline and the experience of Lukáš Hrádecky, Robin Lod, and Joel Pohjanpalo, but the recent rout by Germany suggests they struggle to match sides with superior individual quality.
