Hungary vs Slovenia – News and Probable Lineups

Two teams that missed out on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup are set to clash in an international friendly on Saturday, as Hungary takes on Slovenia.

Neither team will participate in this summer’s finals, with their next competitive matches occurring in the UEFA Nations League later this year.

Match overview

Hungary last played on November 16, when they fell 3-2 to the Republic of Ireland, leaving them in third place in Group F and ending their hopes of participating in the World Cup this summer.

The National Team has not qualified for a World Cup since 1986, yet they have participated in each of the last three European Championships, reaching the round of 16 in 2016 before being eliminated in the group stages in 2020 and again in 2024.

Marco Rossi’s squad has recorded two victories and just one loss in their last four matches, with four friendlies scheduled against Slovenia, Greece, Finland, and Kazakhstan before starting their UEFA Nations League campaign against Ukraine on September 25.

Hungary has only met Slovenia four times previously, achieving one victory – a 2-1 win in a friendly match back in August 1998.

All four encounters between these teams have been friendlies, with their last meeting, which Slovenia won 1-0, taking place in March 2008.

Slovenia will also be absent from the finals of the 2026 World Cup after finishing third in their qualification campaign in Group B, behind Switzerland and Kosovo.

The national team did not succeed in any of their six qualification matches, recording four draws and managing only three goals, resulting in a disappointing campaign for the European side.

Slovenia last qualified for the World Cup in 2010, though they did participate in the finals of Euro 2024, reaching the round of 16 in that tournament.

Bostjan Cesar became the head coach of the national team in January, and the 43-year-old, who holds the record for most caps for his country, is set to manage Slovenia for the first time on Saturday.

Slovenia has friendlies against Hungary, Montenegro, and Croatia lined up before starting their UEFA Nations League challenge against Scotland on September 26.

Hungary friendlies form:

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Hungary form (all competitions):

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Slovenia friendlies form:

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Slovenia form (all competitions):

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Team News

Hungary has four uncapped players in their current squad, including Donat Barany, who could potentially make his debut for the national team on Saturday.

Several new players may get the chance to impress, including Daniel Lukacs, who has scored twice in five appearances for the national team.

Additionally, there will likely be spots in the starting XI for Liverpool players Milos Kerkez and Dominik Szoboszlai.

On the other hand, Slovenia will be without Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko, who has withdrawn from the squad due to an unspecified issue; Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak is another significant absentee due to an injury.

Andraz Sporar, who has netted 12 times for his country, is expected to lead the attack as the squad’s top goalscorer.

The most experienced player in the squad is Petar Stojanovic, who stands to earn his 73rd cap for the national team, while Leeds United’s Jaka Bijol is likely to be included in the back four.

Hungary probable starting XI:

Thoth; R Sollai, Orban, Nego, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Schafer, Vitalis; Schon, Varaga, Lukacs

Slovenia probable starting XI:

Eyelids; Stojanovic, Bijol, Zec, Janza; Verbic, Cerin, Stankovic, Seslar; Sporar, Vipotnik

There has never been a tie between Hungary and Slovenia, but we anticipate that history may change on Saturday, with the possibility of a low-scoring draw in this international friendly.