Arabic version: أيرلندا الشمالية تستهدف الفوز في المجر بحسم دوري الأمم
According to BBC News, Northern Ireland will pursue victory rather than settle for the draw that would secure promotion when they face Hungary in Budapest on Tuesday night. A point at the Puskas Arena would guarantee top spot in Group B2 and take Michael O’Neill’s side into Nations League A for the first time.
Northern Ireland are the only team in the 2026-27 Nations League yet to concede a goal. They enter the final group match after a 1-0 win over Ukraine in Belfast, with three victories and two draws from five games. Hungary are one point behind them.
Veteran striker Josh Magennis said the team would be set up to win. The Stevenage player, who will earn his 94th cap if selected, said Northern Ireland have a group capable of overpowering and overrunning games. He added that Hungary would need to account for the visitors’ running power, physicality and set-pieces.
Shea Charles said the squad had learned from a similar promotion-clinching fixture away to Luxembourg in November 2024. Northern Ireland led 2-0 before Luxembourg fought back for a 2-2 draw, which was enough to secure promotion from the third tier. Charles said the team would continue to play the way it has been playing despite the result permutations.
Hungary v Northern Ireland kicks off at 19:45 GMT on Tuesday, 17 November. The match will be shown on BBC iPlayer and BBC One NI from 19:15 GMT, with coverage also available on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Ulster, and the BBC Sport app and website.
