Hungary

Hungary’s first international was a 5–0 defeat to Austria in Vienna on 12 October 1902. By 1938 they were in a World Cup final, losing 4–2 to Italy.

The side that followed is the one everyone remembers. Built by coach Gusztáv Sebes around Puskás, Sándor Kocsis, József Bozsik and a deep-lying centre-forward, Nándor Hidegkuti, the Golden Team won Olympic gold in 1952 and went unbeaten from May 1950. They reached the 1954 World Cup final in Bern as heavy favourites, led West Germany 2–0 and lost 3–2. Germans call it the Miracle of Bern. Further Olympic golds followed in 1964 and 1968.

On 25 November 1953, in front of 105,000 at Wembley, Hungary beat England 6–3. Hidegkuti scored inside the first minute and finished with a hat-trick, Puskás got two, including the famous drag-back that left Billy Wright on the floor, and Bozsik added the sixth. England had never lost at home to a side from outside the British Isles. Six months later, on 23 May 1954, Hungary beat them 7–1 in Budapest, still England’s heaviest defeat.

The national stadium stands on the site of the old Ferenc Puskás Stadium, the former Népstadion, in Budapest’s Zugló district. It opened on 15 November 2019 with a 2–1 defeat to Uruguay and holds 67,215. It has since hosted Euro 2020 games, the 2023 Europa League final and the 2026 Champions League final, won by PSG on penalties against Arsenal. The old brick press centre now houses a museum about Puskás.

After missing ten straight Euros, Hungary returned in 2016 and won their group, including a 3–3 draw with Portugal, before losing 4–0 to Belgium in the last 16. They also qualified for Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, where Kevin Csoboth’s winner against Scotland in the 100th minute in Stuttgart was not quite enough to reach the knockouts.

World Cup 2026 qualifying ended in pain. Needing a result at home to Ireland on 16 November 2025, Hungary led through Dániel Lukács and Barnabás Varga but lost 3–2 to a Troy Parrott hat-trick, the winner coming in the 96th minute. They finished third in the group behind Portugal and Ireland and missed the play-offs. Under Marco Rossi they have bounced back in Nations League B. A 2–1 win in Ukraine on 5 October 2026, with Mark Csinger scoring the winner, left them second in their group on seven points, with Georgia and Northern Ireland still to play in November.

Hungary traditionally wear cherry red shirts, white shorts and green socks, taking the colours straight from the national flag. Adidas has made the kit since 1995. The red shirt is the one most fans link to the Golden Team.

This FanFile covers Hungary as a national team rather than one particular jersey. Check the crest, sponsor, manufacturer label and product code on your own shirt to identify its specific season and edition.

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• UEFA: how the Magical Magyars changed football
• Wikipedia: the 1953 Match of the Century
• Wikipedia: Hungary national team history and honours
• UEFA: inside the Puskás Aréna
• Daily News Hungary: Hungary 2–3 Ireland and World Cup exit
• VAVEL: Ukraine 1–2 Hungary, Nations League

Facts checked: 22 October 2026.