Who scored the winning goal for Ireland?

Troy Parrott scored the winning goal for Ireland in the 6th minute of stoppage time.

Which team clinched top spot in the group?

Portugal clinched top spot in the group with a 9-1 win over Armenia.

Home / Sports / Ireland Secures World Cup Play-Off Spot with Dramatic 3-2 Win Over Hungary

Ireland Secures World Cup Play-Off Spot with Dramatic 3-2 Win Over Hungary

16 Nov, 2025

•

Summary

Troy Parrott scores hat-trick to lead Ireland's comeback
Ireland snatches play-off place from Hungary in final minutes
Portugal clinches top spot with 9-1 win over Armenia

Ireland Secures World Cup Play-Off Spot with Dramatic 3-2 Win Over Hungary

On November 16, 2025, the Republic of Ireland secured a crucial World Cup play-off spot with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Hungary in Budapest. The match was a nail-biter, with the hosts taking an early lead through Daniel Lukacs' header. However, Ireland's Troy Parrott equalized from the penalty spot before Hungary regained the advantage through a stunning strike from Barnabas Varga.

Trailing 2-1 in the closing stages, Ireland refused to give up. Parrott scored his second goal to level the match in the 80th minute, and then snatched an unlikely winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time to complete his hat-trick and seal the victory for the visitors.