England's World Cup Opponents: Hungary

Last updated : 22 February 2021 By Three Lions

In this most unusual of football years, England will begin their World Cup qualification campaign just months ahead of their bid to win a major tournament, the delayed Euro 2020, on home soil.

Gareth Southgate's squad will play ten qualification matches in 2021 in their bid to book a spot at Qatar 2022 next winter.

The Three Lions have been drawn alongside Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra and San Marino in their qualifying group, with only the group winner guaranteed a World Cup berth.

Football with England Crest

Image from www.freeimages.co.uk

Hungarian football, for so long saddled with a golden past that future generations were unable to live up to, is now in the midst of better times, the national side having qualified for their second successive European Championships and having also won a tough Nations League B group ahead of Russia, Serbia and Turkey.

Domestically the game has been a priority area for the Hungarian government in recent years, acting as the catalyst for investment in new stadiums, such as the Puskas Arena in Budapest which hosted the 2020 Super Cup and more recently has acted as a neutral venue for Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City in their european ties.