Scotland and Hungary don’t meet often. They have played only ten times in nearly nine decades, so the full history fits in one article. The most recent match, at Euro 2024, is also the only competitive one, and it is the game most fans remember. This guide covers the Scotland National Football Team Vs Hungary National Football Team Timeline from the first meeting at Ibrox in 1938 to the last-gasp Hungarian winner in Stuttgart.
Since those ten games are the entire history, the “latest 10 matches” table below is the complete head-to-head record. As far as I could find, there has been no meeting since June 2024.
Head-to-Head at a Glance
| Stat | Scotland |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 10 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Goals scored | 14 |
| Goals conceded | 19 |
| First meeting | 7 December 1938 |
| Most recent meeting | 23 June 2024 |
Hungary hold the edge, with five wins to Scotland’s three. Both sides have scored plenty over the years, with an average of just over three goals per game.
Latest 10 Matches: Full Results Table
Here is the Scotland National Football Team Vs Hungary National Football Team Timeline in table form, newest first. Results are from Scotland’s perspective.
| # | Date | Fixture | Score | Competition | Venue / Host | Result (Scotland) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 Jun 2024 | Scotland v Hungary | 0–1 | UEFA Euro 2024, Group A | MHPArena, Stuttgart (neutral) | Loss |
| 2 | 27 Mar 2018 | Hungary v Scotland | 0–1 | International Friendly | Budapest | Win |
| 3 | 18 Aug 2004 | Scotland v Hungary | 0–3 | International Friendly | Scotland (home) | Loss |
| 4 | 9 Sep 1987 | Scotland v Hungary | 2–0 | International Friendly | Scotland (home) | Win |
| 5 | 31 May 1980 | Hungary v Scotland | 3–1 | International Friendly | Népstadion, Budapest | Loss |
| 6 | 5 Jun 1960 | Hungary v Scotland | 3–3 | International Friendly | Népstadion, Budapest | Draw |
| 7 | 7 May 1958 | Scotland v Hungary | 1–1 | International Friendly | Hampden Park, Glasgow | Draw |
| 8 | 29 May 1955 | Hungary v Scotland | 3–1 | International Friendly | Népstadion, Budapest | Loss |
| 9 | 8 Dec 1954 | Scotland v Hungary | 2–4 | International Friendly | Hampden Park, Glasgow | Loss |
| 10 | 7 Dec 1938 | Scotland v Hungary | 3–1 | International Friendly | Ibrox Park, Glasgow | Win |
Nine of the ten games were friendlies. Euro 2024 is the only time the two nations have met with something at stake.
The Timeline in Detail
1938: Scotland Win the First Meeting
The first meeting took place at Ibrox on 7 December 1938. Scotland won 3–1, and it remained their best result against Hungary for years. International football was less frequent then, and a home friendly against a continental side was a notable fixture.
1954–1955: The Golden Team Era
The next two meetings came against one of the great sides in football history. Hungary’s “Golden Team” had already beaten England 6–3 at Wembley in 1953. At Hampden Park on 8 December 1954, Hungary won 4–2. Five months later, in Budapest, they won 3–1.
Scotland scored in both games, so they weren’t overwhelmed. But the 1950s were Hungary’s decade, and these results fit that pattern.
1958 and 1960: Two Draws
The balance shifted slightly after that. On 7 May 1958 the sides drew 1–1 at Hampden Park, with both teams preparing for that year’s World Cup. Two years later, on 5 June 1960, they played a 3–3 draw in Budapest. It was a high-scoring game, and a good away result for Scotland against a strong Hungarian side.
1980: Hungary Win in Budapest
The gap between meetings then widened to two decades. On 31 May 1980 Hungary beat Scotland 3–1 at the Népstadion. Scotland have won only once in Hungary, and this was one of the defeats.
1987: Scotland’s Best Result
On 9 September 1987 Scotland beat Hungary 2–0 in a friendly at home. It was their cleanest win in the series and the only clean sheet they kept against Hungary until 2018.
2004: Hungary Win 3–0
Seventeen years passed before the next meeting. On 18 August 2004 Hungary won 3–0 in Scotland. It is the heaviest defeat Scotland have suffered in the series. The gap to the 1987 win shows how rarely these teams crossed paths.
2018: Phillips Wins It in Budapest
The two sides met again on 27 March 2018 in Budapest. Matt Phillips scored the only goal and Scotland won 1–0. It was Scotland’s third win in the series and their first success on Hungarian soil since the series began. It also looked like the start of a better run for both nations, as each would qualify for a major tournament within a few years.
2024: Euro 2024 and the Stuttgart Heartbreak
The most recent chapter is the biggest. On 23 June 2024, in the final Group A game, both nations still had a path to the knockout rounds. Scotland had lost heavily to Germany and then drawn with Switzerland. Hungary had lost their first two games and needed a win.
Hungary arrived with a 14-match unbeaten run behind them from November 2022 to March 2024, and they were the more threatening side. Per match data from FootyStats, they had 15 shots to Scotland’s six, and six shots on target to none. Their expected goals were 1.51, against 0.45 for Scotland.
The game was overshadowed when Hungary forward Barnabás Várga was knocked unconscious in a collision with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn and taken to hospital. He was reported to be in a stable condition. After a long stoppage, Hungary kept pushing. Kevin Csoboth scored in the tenth minute of added time, after a cutback from Roland Sallai, to win 1–0.
Scotland finished bottom of Group A with one point. Hungary did not go through either, as they too fell short of the knockout rounds. Scotland manager Steve Clarke called it a one-goal game, which matched how tight it was.
What the History Tells Us
Hungary have usually had the edge. Five wins to three, with Hungary scoring 19 goals to Scotland’s 14, is a clear if modest advantage.
Home advantage has mattered, but not always. Scotland won twice and drew once in their five home games, and lost twice. Away from home they won once, drew once, and lost twice. The only neutral-venue game, in Stuttgart, went to Hungary.
Matches are rarely dull. The average of around three goals per game is high for international football. Three of the ten finished 3–1 or 4–2, and one finished 3–3.
The gaps are long. Seventeen years between 1987 and 2004, and fourteen between 2004 and 2018. Any future meeting is likely to be a one-off, perhaps in a Nations League or qualifying draw.
Scotland and Hungary Today
Both sides have changed since 2024. Scotland continued under Steve Clarke and qualified for the 2026 World Cup, where their group included Morocco. Hungary, with Dominik Szoboszlai as captain and the best-known player in the squad, missed out in qualifying, losing 3–2 to the Republic of Ireland in their final game in November 2025.
If the nations are drawn together again, the Euro 2024 result will likely be the talking point. Scotland will want to avenge the Stuttgart defeat, and Hungary will want to show it wasn’t a fluke.
Conclusion
The Scotland National Football Team Vs Hungary National Football Team Timeline is short but has plenty of drama. It includes a Golden Team win at Hampden, a 3–3 thriller in Budapest, a 1987 victory, a heavy 2004 defeat and a 2018 away win. It ends with a stoppage-time goal at Euro 2024. Ten meetings, three wins, two draws and five defeats for Scotland: a close series that Hungary have edged.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many times have Scotland and Hungary played each other?
They have met ten times, from 7 December 1938 to 23 June 2024. Nine of those were friendlies, and the other was a Euro 2024 group game.
2. Who has won more matches between Scotland and Hungary?
Hungary lead with five wins to Scotland’s three. Two matches ended in draws (1–1 in 1958 and 3–3 in 1960).
3. What was the score the last time Scotland played Hungary?
Hungary won 1–0 on 23 June 2024 at Euro 2024 in Stuttgart. Kevin Csoboth scored in the tenth minute of stoppage time.
4. Have Scotland ever beaten Hungary in Hungary?
Yes, once. Scotland won 1–0 in Budapest on 27 March 2018, with Matt Phillips scoring the only goal. Their other three visits ended in two defeats and a draw.
5. What was the biggest win in the series?
Hungary’s 3–0 win in Scotland on 18 August 2004 is the largest margin. Scotland’s biggest win was 2–0 at home on 9 September 1987. They also won 3–1 in 1938.
Oregon Ducks Football Vs Indiana Hoosiers Football Match Player Stats
