Ireland begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign underway with an Aviva Stadium tie against Hungary on Saturday.

The pair are housed in Group F, a four-team group also containing Portugal and Armenia.

With the market expecting the Portuguese to dominate the section, Ireland may feel they need to pick up three potentially valuable points in Dublin.

Selections {.centered}

Ireland to win or draw @ 2/5Under 2.5 goals @ 41/20Evan Ferguson to score first @ 6/1

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Ireland can get off to a flying start {.centered}

Ireland have made progress under manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and they look a good bet to get their 2026 World Cup qualifying effort off to a winning start against Hungary in Dublin.

The Boys in Green have lost only two of their last eight matches and those two reversals came in tough away Nations League fixtures in England and Greece.

Ireland were good enough to beat Finland twice in Group B2 and then Bulgaria home and away in the playoffs in last term's Nations League.

Those performances appear similar to what might be needed to down Hungary.

Keeping the draw as a push on the draw no bet market looks a good way to side with Ireland in Dublin.

Goals could be in short supply {.centered}

Hallgrimsson was dealt a blow when forward Troy Parrott was forced to withdraw from the squad.

However, he has real top level depth with good performers Evan Ferguson, Sammie Szmodics, Nathan Collins, Josh Cullen and Matt Doherty are available for selection.

Hungary can call on Liverpool duo Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez, but goals are a major problem for Marco Rossi's side.

The Magyars actually played pretty well in the two legs of their Nations League relegation playoff against Turkey in March, but failed to make the most of their chances and ended up losing 6-1 on aggregate.

Rossi's men have scored only eight goals in their last 12 matches and none of the striking options open to the Italian are convincing.

With them averaging under a goal a game in recent outings, one might be all these two can muster, with an Ireland 1-0 win another option at 6/1.

Refocused Ferguson can fire{.centered}

Ferguson's career has been hindered by injury and a lack of game time, but the Irishman scored 13 goals in 27 league games for Brighton and the forward has made an encouraging start to his loan move at Roma.

A complete pre-season and regular game time with the Giallorossi will only benefit the 20-year-old and he looks a reasonable bet to open the scoring against Hungary.

Parrot's injury means that goalscoring duties are likely to fall to Ferguson and in a potentially cagey contest, the young striking starlet can take any chances which come his way.