Hungary set for international matches against Sweden and Azerbaijan
Hungary will step up their preparations for their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with two international friendlies in June.
According to Sports Today, they host Sweden on June 6, before visiting Azerbaijan four days later. Head coach Marco Rossi has called up 25 players for the two games.
Dominik Szoboszlai is the standout name in the squad having recently helped Liverpool claim the Premier League title for just the second time.
Rossi plans to use the friendlies as an opportunity to give several fringe players the chance to stake their claim for a regular place in the squad.
“We’ve decided to call up players who’ve been squad members in the past, but who’ve not received call-ups most recently,” Rossi told mlsz.hu.
“One of the reasons for this is that we’ll play two friendly matches in this international break, and another is that these players have been in recent good form for their clubs.
“We’d like to observe them during these two matches and the associated training sessions, but naturally the door to selection is not shut to anyone and it is important to emphasise this.”
Hungary are desperate to qualify for the World Cup having failed to secure a place at the prestigious tournament since Mexico staged the event in 1986.
They have appeared in the last three editions of the European Championship, but progressing to the global showpiece has proved to be beyond them.
However, with FIFA expanding the tournament to 48 teams for the first time, Hungary have an excellent chance of ending their World Cup drought.
They have been drawn alongside Portugal, Armenia and Republic of Ireland and will fancy their chances of securing a top two finish in the group.
The group winners progress automatically to the World cup, while the runners-up will have the opportunity to secure one of four qualification places via the play-offs.
Hungary will be without RB Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi for their qualifying campaign after he recently announced his retirement from international football.
Gulacsi made his senior international debut against Denmark in 2014 and is one of a handful of players who featured in each of Hungary’s three recent appearances at the Euros.
The 35-year-old is the third most capped goalkeeper in Hungarian football history with 58 appearances. Only Gabor Kiraly (108) and Gyula Grosics (86) have played more games.
Gulacsi delivered the surprising football news to fans on social media, saying he was proud to have had the opportunity to represent his country.
“I was able to participate in three European Championships with the senior national team, playing in two of them, including one at home in front of a sold-out crowd at Puskas Arena,” he said. “These memories will always hold a special place in my heart.
“I am filled with pride when I think back on the unforgettable moments, the exciting matches, the victories we experienced together, but also the difficult moments we went through together as a team.”
Hungary’s latest squad:
Goalkeepers: Denes Dibusz (Ferencvaros), Peter Szappanos (Paks), Balazs Toth (Blackburn Rovers).
Defenders: Botond Balogh (Parma), Marton Dardai (Hertha BSC), Attila Mocsi (Rizespor), Willi Orban (RB Leipzig), Gabor Szalai (Ferencvaros).
Midfielders: Bendeguz Bolla (Rapid Wien), Aron Csongvai (AIK), Bence Dardai (Vfl Wolfsburg), Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth), Zsolt Nagy (Puskas Akademia), Loic Nego (Le Havre), Tamas Nikitscher (Real Valladolid), Attila Osvath (Paks), Andra Schefer (Union Berlin), Callum Styles (West Bromwich Albion), Alex Toth (Ferencvaros), Milan Vitalis (ETO FC Gyor).
Forwards: Kevin Csoboth Kevin (St Gallen), Daniel Gazdag (Columbus Crew), Roland Sallai (Galatasaray), Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool), Barnabas Varga (Ferencvaros).