The Hungary national football team has a huge place in World Cup history, with their 1954 team considered to be the greatest side never to win the trophy. Along with the Netherlands and Czechoslovakia, they are the only team to lose multiple finals without winning one themselves, and have three Olympic titles to their name (1952, 1964 and 1968).
Their 1902 match against Austria was the first official international match between two non-British nations and, despite the Austro-Hungarian Empire lasting until 1918, the two countries had separate teams. Hungary’s record victory is 12-0 (vs Russian Empire in 1912, vs Albania in 1950) and a 13-1 win against France in 1927.
The Magical Magyars 1954 team went unbeaten for 31 matches and thrilled the footballing world with players like Ferenc Puskas, Nandor Hidegkuti, Sandor Kocsis and Jozsef Bozsik. By beating England 6-3 in November 1953, the Hungarians became the first non-UK team to beat the English at Wembley, sending shock-waves throughout the world. Proving it was no fluke, they won 7-1 in the rematch soon after. This is still England’s heaviest defeat.
These days the Hungary national football team struggle to qualify for tournaments and haven’t added to their nine World Cup appearances since 1986.