From outdated stadiums and struggling clubs, the country has rebuilt much of its football infrastructure under the rule of Viktor Orban, whose passion for the sport became one of the defining themes of his time in power.
Billions were invested into stadiums, academies and clubs across the country, helping modernise the football environment while also sparking years of debate about politics, public money and sustainability.
Now, as Budapest prepares to host the biggest club match in Europe between Arsenal and defending champions PSG, Hungary is presenting both the successes and contradictions of that era.
"Football has always been one of Orban’s biggest personal topics," says Tamas Gaal of NB1.hu. "In 2010 he won the elections by such a huge margin that there was basically no meaningful resistance to the system he was building."
Rebuilding Hungarian football
Hungarian football was in a poor condition when Orban returned to power in 2010. Infrastructure was outdated, clubs were financially unstable and the national team had spent decades away from major tournaments.
According to one Hungarian football insider, who wishes to remain anonymous, Orban recognised football as both a cultural and political opportunity.
"He figured that supporting football would bring more political gains than losses," the insider says. "Football fans, having been appeased, turned a blind eye to the billions in public funds spent on their clubs and facilities."
The investment transformed the landscape of Hungarian football. Visually, at least. Modern stadiums appeared across the country, training centres were upgraded and clubs suddenly operated in far more professional conditions than before.
The clearest symbol of that transformation became Puskas Akademia FC, the academy club from Felcsut, Orban’s home village. "It is literally so close to him that he put the stadium into the neighbourhood of his old family house," Gaal says.
The academy’s stadium famously holds more spectators than the village itself has residents, making it both an international curiosity and a frequent target for critics. Still, even many sceptics acknowledge that the overall football environment improved.
"There is no question that Hungarian football developed during this era," Gaal says. "The league, the infrastructure, the national team, it all improved."
Progress and limits
The debate in Hungary is less about whether football improved or not, but rather about whether the scale of improvement matched the level of investment.
Hungary qualified for three consecutive European Championships under Italian coach Marco Rossi, while players such as Dominik Szoboszlai, Willi Orban and Roland Sallai became internationally recognised names. But insiders argue the success of the national team sometimes masked deeper structural problems within youth development.
The anonymous insider is particularly critical of Puskas Akademia’s role as a development project. "Judging by the money spent, it hasn’t been a success story," he says. "It produced relatively few top-level Hungarian players and relied heavily on foreign footballers."
He points to the case of Viktor Vitalyos, a player released by the academy before later earning a move to Sparta Prague after impressing elsewhere in Hungary. "And there are many such stories," he says.
At the same time, clubs such as Ferencvaros helped raise Hungary’s international profile with regular appearances in European competition, even if the gap between "Fradi" and the rest of the league remains significant.
The stadium that worked
If opinions remain divided about parts of Hungary’s football model, there is far more agreement about Puskas Arena itself.
Built largely with public money, the national stadium became politically controversial during construction because of its cost.
But it has since established itself as one of Europe’s most respected modern venues, having hosted the UEFA Super Cup, the Europa League final, several games of the Euros and now getting ready for the Champions League final.
"All my experiences there are great, as a journalist or as a fan,” Gaal says. The anonymous insider agrees. "Hungary needed a facility like this," he says. "The arena is full for national team matches and major international events."
The criticism, he adds, is directed more toward the dozens of smaller stadiums built around the country, many of which struggle financially.
For the Champions League final, though, the spotlight will firmly be on Budapest, a city that has increasingly built a reputation as a major host for international sporting events.
Fans arriving for the final can expect a football-friendly environment, strong organisation and a city eager to embrace the occasion.
"Budapest and the Puskas Arena definitely match the standards of a Champions League final," Gaal says. "The visiting fans will have a great experience."
That was evident by the large groups of fans from all over the world who flooded the fan festival at the Heroes' Square already on Thursday.
The anonymous insider believes the event is also a major opportunity for Hungary’s international image. "Budapest is one of the most geographically fortunate capitals in Europe," he says. "Visitors will have a great time here."
What comes next?
There is a certain irony around the final in Budapest. While the stadium was in large part a Viktor Orban project, he lost power in the country just before it could host the biggest event to date.
The future of Hungarian football may now depend on whether the country can maintain progress while creating a more sustainable model.
Opposition politician Peter Magyar, who beat Orban in the elections just under a month ago, has promised greater accountability in sport financing while insisting that support for Hungarian sport itself will continue. For now, insiders say, the long-term direction remains unclear.
But regardless of what happens politically, the Champions League final will represent a milestone for Hungarian football, and proof of how dramatically the country’s football landscape has changed since 2010.
For one night, Budapest will sit at the centre of European football. And whether viewed as a success story, a political project or something in between, modern Hungarian football will be on display for the entire continent to see.
