Troy Parrott’s Dramatic Hat Trick Sends Ireland to World Cup Play-offs

Troy Parrott delivered an unforgettable performance, securing a hat trick with a decisive goal in the 96th minute, propelling the Republic of Ireland to the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs with a dramatic 3-2 triumph over Hungary in Budapest.

After Hungary took an early lead through Daniel Lukacs’ header, Parrott equalized from the penalty spot. He subsequently leveled the match for a second time following Barnabas Varga’s impressive strike before clinching an improbable victory in the sixth minute of stoppage time. This win was crucial, as only a victory would suffice for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad to maintain their World Cup aspirations.

By finishing in second place behind Portugal, who defeated Armenia 9-1 to seal the top position, Ireland will advance to the play-offs in March, while Hungary will not.

An emotional Parrott expressed his joy to RTE, stating, “I am really, really emotional right now; these are tears of joy – what a night. I can’t believe it, truly. This is why we love football; moments like this can happen. I cherish where I’m from, and this means the world to me, especially with my family here.”

He continued, “This is the first time I’ve cried in years; I genuinely can’t believe it. Everyone is emotional, and I remarked after the Portugal match that this is what dreams are made of, but I doubt I’ll ever experience a better night in my life. It feels like a fairytale, something you can’t even dream about. I struggle to find the words to express my feelings right now.”

Parrott acknowledged that many had dismissed their chances at the beginning of the group stage, yet he emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities, stating, “There’s always a chance, and we have taken it. Everyone should be proud of this group of players; to come back twice from being a goal down is truly beautiful.”

Hungary, who had previously led 2-0 against Ireland in Dublin before settling for a 2-2 draw, began the match strongly, taking an early lead just three minutes in. Skipper Dominik Szoboszlai initiated the play, leading to Lukacs’ header past goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher.

Ireland was granted a golden opportunity to equalize when Norwegian referee Espen Eskas reviewed a challenge by Attila Szalai on Chiedozie Ogbene and awarded a penalty. Parrott, who had already scored twice against Portugal, confidently converted the spot-kick, leveling the score.

Despite knowing that a point would secure their position, Hungary, particularly Szoboszlai, worked to slow the game down and retain possession. However, Ireland’s direct approach posed significant challenges, and as the match progressed, it became increasingly tense.

Just before halftime, Hungary regained the lead with Varga’s powerful shot from outside the box, leaving Ireland in a tough spot when Ogbene left the match due to a hamstring injury. Adam Idah came on as a substitute, but Ireland’s prospects seemed bleak as Szoboszlai showcased his skills.

Idah found the net shortly after, but it was Parrott who shone brightest, skillfully controlling a chipped pass before scoring the equalizer. Even as Kelleher made crucial saves and Hungary’s goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz thwarted a late effort from Johnny Kenny, it was Parrott who capitalized on a knockdown from Liam Scales to deliver the match-winning strike.