Celebrating 125 years of Hungarian football
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Article summary
Representatives from the local and global football communities gather in Budapest to commemorate the milestone.
Article top media content
Article body
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin was among figures from around the world in Budapest this week to celebrate 125 years of the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ).
The federation was born on 19 January 1901, and has since overseen the governance and development of football in Hungary. The event in Budapest was an opportunity to reflect on the successes of the past 125 years and pay homage to the early pioneers of Hungarian football, and followed the release of a special jersey late last year to celebrate the landmark birthday.
This revival is no coincidence. It is the result of long‑term investment in academies, coaches, young players, and facilities. It is the result of leadership. I want to pay tribute to my dear friend Shandor Csányi. His leadership, together with his colleagues at the federation, brought Hungarian football to where it is today. Hungary is one of the few countries in Europe investing so much in sport - especially in football.
These are days to be proud: proud of the players who came before, proud of the coaches who brought new ideas, proud of the officials and fans who never stopped believing. But tonight is also about looking forward with confidence. The greatest chapters may still lie ahead."
"The new rise of Hungarian football is deeply moving. The national team has once again become a source of pride and identity. They play with heart, discipline and a clear idea, supported by a federation that knows exactly where it wants to go."
Celebrating a rich history
It was at the István Főherceg Hotel on the banks of the Danube that 12 clubs originally met to establish the Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség, or MLSZ. It was only the ninth football federation to exist in Europe at the time, and became a FIFA member in 1906.
A second-place finish at the 1938 World Cup was a notable early success, but Hungary’s golden era was yet to begin. Led by players such as the great Ferenc Puskás, József Bozsik and Nándor Hidegkuti, Hungarian football set the technical and tactical standards of the European game in the 1950s and '60s, including victory in the 'Game of the Century' – a famous 6-3 dismantling of England at Wembley – and the subsequent 7-1 defeat of the Three Lions in Budapest a year later.
Between 1952 and 1968, Hungary claimed three Olympic football golds and a bronze, another World Cup second-place finish, and a third-place finish at the 1964 European Championship.
A new chapter
Despite its storied past, Hungarian football was suffering something of a decline at the turn of the century. Participation and viewing figures were low, facilities were lacking and the national team had not qualified for a major tournament since the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
The MLSZ responded with its 'Decade of Revival' strategy, which has transformed the game in Hungary. Boosted by support from the UEFA HatTrick development programme, they have built or renovated hundreds of grassroots pitches, introduced new football programmes and competitions at schools and universities, and constructed a new state-of-the-art headquarters.
Investment into elite youth players – male and female – and coaches have helped to raise standards, with Hungarian players now playing across Europe’s top leagues. Thirty-two of Hungary’s leading professional clubs now have new or renovated stadiums, while a new home for the country’s national football team – the Puskás Aréna, honouring Hungarian football’s most treasured legend – was inaugurated in 2019, staged matches at UEFA EURO 2020 and the iconic venue will play host to this year’s UEFA Champions League final.