Troy Parrott’s Last-Gasp Hat-Trick Sends Ireland Into World Cup Play-Offs

The Republic of Ireland completed one of their most dramatic qualification runs in recent memory, winning three consecutive matches to secure a place in the UEFA play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

At the centre of it all: 23-year-old Troy Parrott, who has now scored five goals in two games to keep Ireland’s World Cup dream alive.

Ireland Survive a Thriller in Budapest

Ireland faced Hungary on Sunday, 16 November, at a sold-out Puskás Aréna in what was a must-win game for the visitors. Hungary needed only a draw to seal second place, while Ireland had no margin for error.

Hungary struck early through Dániel Lukács in the 3rd minute. Ireland responded with a Parrott penalty midway through the first half, but Hungary regained the lead when Barnabás Varga fired in a superb volley from outside the box shortly before half-time.

Second-Half Fightback

Ireland emerged aggressively in the second half, switching to an ultra-attacking shape that piled pressure on the Hungarian defence. A disallowed Irish goal and several close chances set the tone before the breakthrough finally came.

In the 80th minute, Finn Azaz slipped an inch-perfect pass into the box, and Parrott produced a delicate chip to level the game at 2–2.

The 96th-Minute Miracle

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As Hungary dropped deeper to protect their point, Ireland pushed forward desperately. Deep into stoppage time, a floated ball was nodded down by Liam Scales, falling perfectly for Parrott who stabbed the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick and secure a sensational 3–2 victory.

Moments later, news filtered through that Portugal had shockingly lost their match, confirming Ireland’s jump to second place in Group F and a berth in the play-offs.

Who Is Troy Parrott?

Troy Daniel Parrott, aged 23, is one of Ireland’s brightest attacking talents.He began his career at Tottenham Hotspur, enjoyed several loan spells, and currently plays for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie.

A long-time member of Ireland’s youth setup, from Under-17 onwards— Parrott has now become the senior team’s talisman, delivering match-defining performances when his country needed them most.