France vs Hungary: World Cup head-to-head record
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France have a perfect World Cup record against Hungary, winning both of their all-time FIFA World Cup meetings. Across those two matches — played in 1978 and 1986 — France scored six goals and conceded just one, never dropping a point against the Hungarians on the World Cup stage.
Both encounters came at the group stage, and on each occasion France secured a comfortable victory, with the scoreline actually improving in France's favour from one tournament to the next.
Match-by-match World Cup record: France vs Hungary
The two sides first met at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. Playing on Matchday 3 of the group stage, France ran out 3–1 winners against Hungary — a result that illustrated France's growing strength in world football at the time. Eight years later, at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the teams were drawn together again. This time France were even more dominant, winning 3–0 with Hungary failing to find the net. Both matches took place on Matchday 3 of their respective group stages, making it a recurring late-group fixture between the two nations.
| Year | Tournament | Stage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | Group Stage, Matchday 3 | France 3–1 Hungary |
| 1986 | Mexico | Group Stage, Matchday 3 | Hungary 0–3 France |
What the record tells us
France's 100% win rate and a combined goal difference of +5 across these two fixtures underlines their historical superiority over Hungary at the World Cup. Hungary have never beaten France at the tournament, and have not even managed a draw. For context, Hungary were a dominant force in world football in the 1950s but struggled at the World Cups where these encounters occurred. France, by contrast, were building toward the elite status they would cement with their 1998 and 2018 World Cup titles. Fans preparing for any future meetings can track live scores and the full 2026 schedule at Bola 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many times have France and Hungary met at the World Cup?
France and Hungary have met exactly twice at the FIFA World Cup — in 1978 and 1986. France won both matches, with a combined score of 6–1 in their favour.
What was the score when France played Hungary at the 1986 World Cup?
France beat Hungary 3–0 at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. The match was played on Matchday 3 of the group stage, with Hungary failing to score.
Has Hungary ever beaten France at the World Cup?
No. Hungary have never beaten France at the FIFA World Cup. In their two meetings (1978 and 1986), Hungary lost both games and have won zero points against France at the tournament.