For much of football history, Hungary and Türkiye have been familiar opponents rather than genuine rivals. Their national teams have met repeatedly since the middle of the 20th century, but the fixture rarely carried the intensity of a classic European derby.
That may be changing.
The two countries have developed increasingly competitive teams, produced a new generation of high-level players and, most importantly, produced a recent sequence of meaningful matches. Hungary dominated the relationship for long periods, including two victories over Türkiye in 2020. But in March 2025, Türkiye dramatically reversed the momentum, winning a Nations League promotion play-off 6–1 on aggregate.
The result did more than send Türkiye into League A. It created a fascinating comparison between two ambitious football projects, and between their two most recognisable young stars: Dominik Szoboszlai and Arda Güler.
The old connection
Hungary and Türkiye have a surprisingly long international history. UEFA’s historical head-to-head record lists 17 meetings, with Hungary winning nine, Türkiye six and two ending in draws before the most recent Nations League play-off.
Some of the earliest encounters date back to the 1950s. Their football relationship subsequently continued through European Championship and World Cup qualifying campaigns, as well as friendly matches and, more recently, the UEFA Nations League.
Historically, Hungary held the upper hand. The most striking example came in 1982, when Hungary defeated Türkiye 5–0. Earlier generations of Hungarian football had also produced several comfortable victories, reflecting the country’s extraordinary status in European football during the 1950s and 1960s.
But the balance gradually became less one-sided.
By the 2000s, Türkiye was establishing itself as a regular presence at major tournaments, including its famous run to the Euro 2008 semi-finals. Hungary, meanwhile, spent a much longer period outside the European elite before beginning its own revival in the 2010s.
That made the meetings between the countries increasingly interesting: one was rebuilding a historic football culture, while the other was consolidating the success of a more recent golden generation.
The statistical head-to-head advantage remains Hungary’s.
The historical record includes some emphatic Hungarian wins. The 5–0 victory in 1982 is the most memorable, while a 4–0 success in 1949 and a number of other wins established Hungary as the stronger side in the early decades of the fixture.
More recently, however, Hungary’s advantage became much narrower. A 3–1 World Cup qualifying win in Budapest in 2012 was followed by a 1–1 draw in Istanbul in 2013. Türkiye then won 1–0 in a Euro qualifying match in 2006 and 3–0 in Istanbul in 2007.
The modern relationship therefore began to look much more competitive than the historical numbers suggested.
And then came 2020.
The 2020 turning point: young Szoboszlai scores in Türkiye
The first Nations League meeting between the countries in September 2020 produced one of the defining moments of Dominik Szoboszlai’s early international career.
Hungary travelled to Sivas for their opening match in League B Group 3. The game remained goalless until the 80th minute, when the then 19-year-old Szoboszlai produced a spectacular long-range free-kick.
The Hungarian midfielder struck from distance, with the ball hitting the post before going into the net. Hungary won 1–0. The Turkish Football Federation’s match report confirms that Szoboszlai scored in the 80th minute.
It was an important result for Hungary, but it also became symbolic.
Szoboszlai was emerging as the face of the country’s new generation, and Hungary would go on to finish top of their Nations League group with 11 points from six matches, ahead of Russia, Serbia and Türkiye.
Two months later, Hungary completed the double, beating Türkiye 2–0 in Budapest.
The contrast with 2025 could hardly have been greater.
The 2025 reversal
Five years after Szoboszlai’s breakthrough moment in Sivas, Türkiye turned the fixture upside down.
The teams met in March 2025 in a UEFA Nations League League A/B promotion play-off. Türkiye won the first leg 3–1 at home on 20 March. Three days later, it produced an even more convincing performance in Budapest, winning 3–0.
The aggregate score was therefore 6–1 to Türkiye. UEFA confirmed the result and Türkiye’s promotion to League A.
The second leg was particularly significant because it featured goals from two of Türkiye’s most important attacking players. Hakan Çalhanoğlu opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 37th minute, Arda Güler made it 2–0 two minutes later, and Abdülkerim Bardakcı added a third in stoppage time.
The numbers tell the story.
| 2025 Nations League play-off | Türkiye | Hungary |
| First leg | 3 | 1 |
| Second leg | 3 | 0 |
| Aggregate | 6 | 1 |
| League status after tie | League A | League B |
It was not merely a narrow change in momentum. Türkiye outscored Hungary by five goals across 180 minutes and won both matches.
The result also followed an encouraging period for Türkiye. At Euro 2024, Montella’s team reached the quarter-finals, defeating Georgia and Czechia in the group stage before beating Austria 2–1 in the last 16. The Netherlands eventually eliminated Türkiye 2–1 in the quarter-final.
Szoboszlai vs Güler: two faces of the next generation
The most compelling individual subplot is the emergence of Szoboszlai and Güler as symbolic representatives of their respective football systems.
Szoboszlai is already the established leader. The Liverpool midfielder has developed from the teenage talent who scored in Sivas into Hungary’s captain and central attacking midfielder. His game combines set-piece quality, long-range shooting, physical power and the ability to operate between midfield and attack.
Güler represents a younger generation.
The Real Madrid attacking midfielder was only 20 when he scored against Hungary in March 2025. His goal in Budapest was technically excellent: receiving possession before producing a precise left-footed finish into the corner. Real Madrid’s official report confirms that he started the second leg and scored Türkiye’s second goal.
Their confrontation became more than a football story after the match. Güler’s “shushing” gesture towards Szoboszlai during the game and the subsequent social-media exchange added a personal dimension to an increasingly competitive fixture.
The symbolism is obvious: Szoboszlai is Hungary’s established star; Güler is one of Türkiye’s most exciting young talents.
What’s next?
The most interesting question is whether Hungary and Türkiye can turn this rivalry into something more significant than an occasional Nations League or qualifying fixture.
There is reason for optimism on both sides.
As of FIFA’s official 20 July 2026 ranking, Türkiye sits 27th in the world, while Hungary is 39th. Türkiye’s historical best ranking is fifth, while Hungary’s is 18th.
Those numbers put both countries firmly in the second tier of European international football, not among the permanent favourites such as France, Spain, England or Germany, but within the group capable of challenging for tournament qualification and potentially causing problems in knockout football.
Türkiye currently has the stronger statistical position. Its quarter-final run at Euro 2024 and 2025 Nations League promotion provide tangible evidence of progress. Hungary, meanwhile, has shown enough consistency over several years to suggest that its current level is not simply a short-term spike.
This is where bookmakers are likely to pay attention.
When international betting markets assess future European Championship or World Cup qualification campaigns, teams such as Hungary and Türkiye are generally more difficult to price as outsiders than they were a decade ago. Their recent tournament performances, player pools and FIFA rankings mean that neither should automatically be treated as a peripheral contender.
For bettors, that makes direct meetings particularly interesting. Türkiye’s 6–1 aggregate victory in 2025 would make it the obvious side to respect in the short term, but Hungary’s earlier victories demonstrate why historical form alone should not determine expectations. The 2020 double, followed by the dramatic reversal five years later, is evidence of how quickly the balance can change.
Of course, bookmaker odds are market assessments rather than predictions of certainty, and anyone betting on international football should treat them accordingly.
Now the two teams have something they did not have before: a young generation, credible tournament ambitions and a recent score to settle.
If both continue producing players capable of competing at Europe’s biggest clubs, Hungary–Türkiye could become one of those fixtures that fans begin circling on the calendar long before the draw is made.
