Hungary national football team

Mens national football team.

The Hungary national football team (Hungarian: magyar labdarúgó-válogatott) represents Hungary in men's international football and is governed by the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ). Known as "The Pharaohs," the team has a rich history, having made nine appearances in the FIFA World Cup and five in the UEFA European Championship. Hungary plays its home matches at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, which opened in November 2019.

Hungary has a storied football legacy, highlighted by its remarkable "Golden Team" of the 1950s, which included legendary players like Ferenc Puskás. This era saw Hungary revolutionize football tactics, particularly with the development of Total Football. The team achieved significant success during this period, finishing as runners-up in the 1938 and 1954 World Cups and winning three Olympic titles. The Golden Team holds the record for the highest Elo rating in football history, reaching 2230 in 1954.

Despite their historical successes, Hungary faced a significant downturn after their elimination from the 1986 World Cup, failing to qualify for major tournaments for thirty years and experiencing a low FIFA ranking of 87 in 1996. However, they began to turn their fortunes around by qualifying for three consecutive European Championships from 2016 to 2024 and achieving promotion to the UEFA Nations League A for the 2022–23 season.

Hungary's early football history includes their first international match at the 1912 Summer Olympics, where they lost to England. They participated in various tournaments throughout the decades, including a remarkable record win of 13-1 against France in 1927. The team saw ups and downs through the years, including a notable performance at the 1964 European Championship where they finished third.