Hungary vs Ukraine Football 25 September 2026: A Nations League Opener Built Around Midfield Control
This Group B2 meeting begins with both Hungary and Ukraine entering a new Nations League campaign in League B.
Hungary are starting a demanding sequence of four matches across the opening international window, with Ukraine first at the Puskás Aréna.
Ukraine arrive under Andrea Maldera, whose first competitive assignment with the national side puts an immediate emphasis on organisation and adaptation.
The match also has a wider context because the group contains Georgia and Northern Ireland, making every early point part of a compact schedule.
Marco Rossi’s side are also dealing with several absences that have forced changes from the squad originally selected for this window.
That combination gives the opening encounter a distinct tactical importance without revealing how the contest itself will unfold.
The tactical picture is particularly interesting in the confirmed formations, with Hungary using a 4-3-1-2 and Ukraine lining up in a 4-1-4-1.
For Hungary, Dominik Szoboszlai operates behind Damir Redzic and Dániel Lukács, giving the home side a narrow attacking structure through the centre.
Ukraine have a deeper midfield base through Volodymyr Brazhko, while Oleh Ocheretko and Georgiy Sudakov are positioned ahead of him.
Viktor Tsyhankov and Vladyslav Vanat provide the wide attacking outlets around Danylo Sikan, creating a different route into the final third.
That contrast makes the spaces between Hungary’s attacking midfielder and Ukraine’s holding midfielder an important area to watch.
The battle for second balls and the ability of each side to move possession quickly from midfield could shape the rhythm of the opening exchanges.
Hungary’s preparations have been affected by the absence of Barnabás Varga, Roland Sallai and Callum Styles, all of whom were withdrawn from the international squad through injury-related unavailability.
Rossi acknowledged before the match that the losses of Varga and Sallai could require tactical adjustments because their characteristics are difficult to replace directly.
Ukraine have also had a late squad change after Artem Dovbyk withdrew because of a club injury, while Oleksandr Andrievsky was unable to join because of appendicitis.
Roman Yaremchuk has additionally been dealing with a knee problem and was not included in Ukraine’s matchday squad for this opener.
The confirmed teams therefore show two coaches working with slightly different personnel from the groups originally assembled for the Nations League window.
Rather than relying on previous expectations, the official selections point toward the players who will carry the tactical responsibility in Budapest.
The pre-match coverage around the fixture has centred on Hungary’s response to the absences and Ukraine’s first competitive match under Maldera.
Hungarian federation coverage has highlighted the challenge of replacing Varga’s aerial presence and Sallai’s work from the flank while maintaining the team’s attacking balance.
The Ukrainian side of the coverage has focused on the new coaching setup, the squad changes and the selection decisions made for the opening Nations League fixture.
There is also historical context between the nations, with Hungary’s federation noting that their first official meeting came in 1988 and that the teams have crossed paths several times since then.
Neither camp can afford to treat the opener as an isolated fixture because four Nations League matches are packed into the same international period.
That makes the opening tactical choices, squad management and ability to maintain structure especially relevant before the next fixtures arrive.
🚑 Squad Availability & Confirmed Absences
Hungary
| Hungary Injury List | ||
|---|---|---|
| Out / Ruled Out | Barnabás Varga | Injured and withdrawn from the Hungary squad |
| Out / Ruled Out | Roland Sallai | Injured and unavailable for the international window |
| Out / Ruled Out | Callum Styles | Injured and unavailable for the international window |
Ukraine
| Ukraine Injury & Availability List | ||
|---|---|---|
| Out / Ruled Out | Artem Dovbyk | Club injury; withdrew from the Ukraine squad |
| Questionable | Roman Yaremchuk | Knee problem reported before the match; not included in the matchday squad |
The Hungary absences are confirmed by the Hungarian Football Federation, while Ukraine’s Dovbyk withdrawal was officially announced by the Ukrainian Football Association. Ukrainian pre-match reporting also recorded Yaremchuk’s knee problem and his omission from the matchday selection.
📋 Matchday Elevens: The Official Starting Sides
Hungary — 4-3-1-2
| Hungary Starting XI | ||
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Balázs Tóth | Starting goalkeeper |
| Defender | Bendegúz Bolla | Starting defender |
| Defender | Willi Orbán | Starting defender |
| Defender | Márk Csinger | Starting defender |
| Defender | Milos Kerkez | Starting defender |
| Midfielder | András Schäfer | Starting midfielder |
| Midfielder | Áron Csongvai | Starting midfielder |
| Midfielder | Milán Vitális | Starting midfielder |
| Attacking Midfielder | Dominik Szoboszlai | Advanced attacking role |
| Forward | Damir Redzic | Starting forward |
| Forward | Dániel Lukács | Starting forward |
Ukraine — 4-1-4-1
| Ukraine Starting XI | ||
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Dmytro Riznyk | Starting goalkeeper |
| Defender | Vitaliy Mykolenko | Starting defender |
| Defender | Mykola Matviyenko | Starting defender and captain |
| Defender | Illia Zabarnyi | Starting defender |
| Defender | Illia Krupskyi | Starting defender |
| Midfielder | Volodymyr Brazhko | Holding midfield role |
| Midfielder | Oleh Ocheretko | Starting midfielder |
| Midfielder | Georgiy Sudakov | Starting midfielder |
| Attacker | Viktor Tsyhankov | Starting wide attacker |
| Attacker | Vladyslav Vanat | Starting wide attacker |
| Forward | Danylo Sikan | Starting centre forward |
The current matchday lineup data lists Hungary in a 4-3-1-2 and Ukraine in a 4-1-4-1. Ukraine’s announced XI is also independently reported with Riznyk in goal, Matviyenko captaining the defence, and Sikan leading the attack.
📰 What the Pre-Match Coverage Is Focusing On
- Hungary’s reshaped attack: Hungarian federation coverage has specifically highlighted the absence of Varga and Sallai and the tactical consequences of losing their different attacking characteristics.
- Ukraine’s new competitive chapter: Andrea Maldera is beginning his competitive tenure with the national team in Budapest, with the starting selection already confirming the shape he has chosen for this opener.
- Squad availability: Ukraine’s official federation confirmed Dovbyk’s injury withdrawal, while Ukrainian reporting noted Yaremchuk’s knee issue before the matchday squad was finalised.
- Immediate group context: Hungary and Ukraine are in League B, Group B2 alongside Georgia and Northern Ireland, with the opening round forming the first step in a four-match September-October sequence.
🔎 Match Details Worth Watching
- Hungary’s central structure: Szoboszlai is positioned behind two forwards, giving the home side a compact attacking triangle through the middle.
- Ukraine’s holding midfielder: Brazhko provides the deeper midfield reference point in Ukraine’s 4-1-4-1 structure.
- Wide threat: Tsyhankov and Vanat give Ukraine two natural attacking outlets from the flanks.
- Defensive leadership: Matviyenko starts at the heart of Ukraine’s defence and is listed as captain in the announced lineup.
- Squad depth: Both teams begin a compressed international period in which player management will become increasingly relevant across the following fixtures.
Variation rule used for this article: the match is structured around the tactical contrast between Hungary’s narrow 4-3-1-2 and Ukraine’s 4-1-4-1, with the injury situation presented separately rather than used as the opening narrative.
| ⚽Highlights | |
|---|---|
| 🥅 Watch | Server #1 |
