Neither side don qualify for this year World Cup, so their 2025-26 season go end on Tuesday evening, as Hungary host Kazakhstan for international friendly for Debrecen.
Both teams dey build towards new UEFA Nations League campaign. Hungary no go compete for World Cup again after dem come up short for qualifying. World Cup runners-up for 1938 and 1954, their absence from FIFA top tournament don stretch to four decades after dem narrowly miss playoff place.
After those dreams bin end with dramatic defeat to Republic of Ireland, head coach Marco Rossi see im resignation swiftly rejected, so he stay for dugout for three subsequent friendlies. The Italian manager wey don dey charge of Magyars since 2018 oversee 1-0 win against Slovenia and goalless draw with Greece for spring international period.
Then, dem kick off summer get-together for Budapest, Barnabas Varga first-half brace secure victory over Finland on Friday. Rossi now get one game left to experiment before Hungary new Nations League campaign kick off for end of September – dem go face Georgia, Ukraine and Northern Ireland for League B Group 2.
Before Tuesday meeting, there don be one win apiece from two previous friendlies, with Kazakhstan winning 3-2 on their most recent trip to Hungary eight years ago. Like their hosts, Kazakhs must watch as another World Cup take place without dem, after finishing distant fourth for their qualifying group.
Despite picking up two wins over Liechtenstein, and drawing with both North Macedonia and Belgium, the Hawks never come near to end their wait for overdue debut. Now for im third spell as senior head coach, Talgat Baysufinov don dey tasked with building towards next Nations League, after Kazakhstan only pick up one point and dem bin relegated last time around.
Following Saturday 1-1 friendly draw for Armenia, dem go get another chance to test fresh blood for Debrecen, before tackling League C group wey get Slovakia, Moldova and Faroe Islands.
Keeping eye for future, Rossi introduce several uncapped players for Hungary post-season double-header, including teenage striker Bendeguz Kovacs, wey make im senior debut on Friday. Without former mainstays Peter Gulacsi and Denes Dibusz for squad, young Liverpool goalkeeper Armin Pecsi fit vie with Balazs Toth of Blackburn Rovers and veteran stopper Peter Szappanos to start between posts.
Star man and captain Dominik Szoboszlai – also im country leading active scorer – dey set to feature for midfield, after creating three chances and setting up Varga first goal against Finland. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan dey captained by Zenit St Petersburg centre-back Nuraly Alip, wey go start for heart of their defence.
Once again, 17-year-old Dastan Satpaev suppose lead visitors attack; the Kairat forward don already agree deal to join Chelsea when he turn 18 for August. Due to injury, Dynamo Moscow winger Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov – wey score when these teams last meet for 2018 and be Hawks all-time top goalscorer – no don dey called up. Roman Murtazaev also find net for that match and dey likely to start for bench.
Hungary possible starting lineup: B. Toth; Osvath, Orban, K. Szucs, Kerkez; Schafer, Styles; A. Toth, Szoboszlai, Sallai; Vargas. Kazakhstan possible starting lineup: Anarbekov; Ashirbek, Kasym, Alip, Vorogovskiy; Orazov, Kuat, Tapalov; Chesnokov, Satpaev, Samorodov.
Even with experimental lineup, Hungary suppose control this game against visitors ranked 68 places lower by FIFA. The hosts pose much more threat than low-scoring Kazakhstan, wey don lose seven of their last 10 away fixtures.
