Who will hold their nerve late in Budapest: Hungary vs Ukraine prediction
The opening-round UEFA Nations League match of the 2026/27 season between Hungary and Ukraine will take place on September 25 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest. The teams are in Group B2 alongside Georgia and Northern Ireland: Hungary dropped down from League A, while Ukraine fell just short of promotion in the previous cycle.
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Hungary: four matches unbeaten after a painful collapse
Hungary missed out on the World Cup playoffs after a home defeat to Ireland, but quickly steadied the ship. Marco Rossi’s side are unbeaten in four consecutive matches: victories over Slovenia, Finland and Kazakhstan were followed by a goalless draw with Greece.
Over a longer stretch, Hungary have suffered just one defeat in their last eight matches, with a 2-2 draw against Portugal among their notable results. However, there are personnel concerns in attack: Roland Sallai and Barnabás Varga are absent from the squad, leaving Rossi to reshape his front line.
Ukraine: a new coach and the search for attacking consistency
Ukraine failed to earn promotion to League A after losing 3-4 on aggregate to Belgium in their two-legged playoff. Andrea Maldera took charge in May, and the early results have been mixed: a 2-0 win over Poland was followed by a 1-2 defeat to Denmark.
Scoring remains a major concern. Ukraine have failed to score more than two goals in a match for seven games in a row. Ruslan Malinovskyi is also absent from the squad, placing additional responsibility in midfield on Mykola Shaparenko, Heorhii Sudakov and the other central players.
Match facts
- Hungary are unbeaten in four consecutive matches and have won three of them.
- Hungary have suffered just one defeat in their last eight matches.
- Ukraine have failed to score more than two goals in a game for seven consecutive matches.
The closing stages could decide it: Hungary vs Ukraine prediction
The teams look closely matched on paper, making a one-sided contest difficult to expect. Hungary have home advantage and head into the Nations League opener on the back of more consistent results, although the absences of Sallai and Varga reduce Rossi’s options in attack.
Ukraine can make the game competitive through the quality of their midfield and the pace out wide, but given their current scoring form, they may struggle to convert enough chances. In an even contest, the hosts’ advantage could emerge in the closing stages.
