Levi Rothermund
| Prefer us on Google — see Tips.gg in Top Stories & Discover | Add on Google |
Northern Ireland host Hungary in the UEFA Nations League on Monday 28 September 2026, and the predicted lineups for this one are shaped as much by who is missing as by who is picked. Hungary go into the game without a recognised centre-forward option after an injury absence up top, which puts real weight on how Marco Rossi fills that final third, while Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland side has no such selection headache reported in the data. That imbalance is really the story of this preview before a ball is kicked.
Northern Ireland Predicted Lineup
Northern Ireland are projected in a 3-4-2-1, the shape understood to be Michael O’Neill’s preferred setup. It reads as a settled side – 11 of the projected XI started their last match – though with only one previous lineup feeding this projection, it should be treated as an early, tentative read rather than a confirmed team. Two names anchor the shape at either end of the pitch: goalkeeper Pierce Charles started that solitary recent match, and so did forward Jamie Donley, the lone frontman in the predicted line-up.
Northern Ireland predicted XI: Pierce Charles; Dan Ballard, Tom Atcheson, Ciaron Brown; Justin Devenny, Trai Hume, Ethan Galbraith, Isaac Price, Patrick Kelly, Shea Charles; Jamie Donley
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 1 | Last 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Pierce Charles | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| D | 4 | Dan Ballard | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| D | 18 | Tom Atcheson | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| D | 22 | Ciaron Brown | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 3 | Justin Devenny | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 5 | Trai Hume | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 7 | Ethan Galbraith | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 14 | Isaac Price | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 16 | Patrick Kelly | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 19 | Shea Charles | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| F | 10 | Jamie Donley | 1/1 | 1/1 |
Hungary Predicted XI
Hungary are also expected to set up in a 3-4-2-1, the system Marco Rossi tends to favour. The projection is largely settled, with 9 of the projected XI starting their last match, though it likewise rests on just a single available lineup and should be read with caution. The clearest break from that pattern comes in midfield, where Tamás Szűcs and Alex Tóth are projected to start despite not featuring in that last match, making them the two names most worth watching if Rossi tweaks his XI.
Hungary predicted XI: Balazs Toth; Willi Orbán, Milos Kerkez, Bendeguz Bolla; Milan Vitális, Dominik Szoboszlai, András Schäfer, Áron Csongvai, Tamás Szűcs, Alex Tóth; Dániel Lukács
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 1 | Last 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Balazs Toth | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| D | 6 | Willi Orbán | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| D | 11 | Milos Kerkez | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| D | 14 | Bendeguz Bolla | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 8 | Milan Vitális | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 10 | Dominik Szoboszlai | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 13 | András Schäfer | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 25 | Áron Csongvai | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| M | 7 | Tamás Szűcs | 0/1 | 0/1 |
| M | 21 | Alex Tóth | 0/1 | 0/1 |
| F | 16 | Dániel Lukács | 1/1 | 1/1 |
Injuries and Suspensions
For Northern Ireland, no absentees are recorded in the data, so there is no line of the pitch thinned by injury or suspension heading into this one. With the squad otherwise intact, any late change is more likely to be a tactical swap than an enforced one, and bench options such as Paul Smyth remain available if O’Neill wants to freshen the attack.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4jwq2ghkd3g6m0v | injured |
Hungary’s team news is more pressing: Barnabás Varga is out injured, thinning Rossi’s forward options ahead of a game where the sole striker slot in this 3-4-2-1 already carries plenty of responsibility. Of the bench options, Damir Redzic looks best placed to come in, having started once among the recent matches used here.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnabás Varga | F | injured | Bruise |
How We Predict These XIs
Each side’s expected XI here is built from that team’s most recent available lineup – just one match for both Northern Ireland and Hungary in this case – with more recent matches always weighted more heavily than older ones when more data exists. Anyone confirmed injured or suspended is removed from selection before the projection is built. Because only a single lineup underpins each side this time, this predicted lineup is genuinely provisional and will move once the official team news lands.
Read also: Northern Ireland vs Hungary Prediction: 28.09.2026 UEFA Nations League Preview
Read also: Northern Ireland vs Hungary Head-to-Head: Record, Stats and Form as of 26 Sep 2026
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for Northern Ireland vs Hungary?
Pierce Charles is projected in goal for Northern Ireland, with Balazs Toth expected to start for Hungary.
What formation will Northern Ireland and Hungary use?
Both sides are projected to line up in a 3-4-2-1, reflecting the preferred shapes of Michael O’Neill and Marco Rossi respectively.
Who is unavailable for Northern Ireland vs Hungary?
Hungary’s Barnabás Varga is out injured, while no absentees are recorded in the data for Northern Ireland.
When do Northern Ireland and Hungary kick off?
The UEFA Nations League match kicks off on Monday 28 September 2026.