Overview
- Troy Parrott sealed a 3-2 comeback in Budapest with a 96th-minute strike after earlier goals leveled the match twice.
- The victory clinched second place in Group F and confirmed Ireland’s place in UEFA’s March play-offs.
- Parrott scored five goals across the window, including a brace against Portugal, and became the first Ireland men’s player to record an away hat-trick.
- The European play-offs in March will include 12 group runners-up plus four Nations League group winners, with one-off semi-finals and finals.
- Hungary were eliminated from contention as captain Dominik Szoboszlai showed visible emotion, while Irish supporters celebrated widely, including jubilant scenes at Dublin Airport.