Irish football fans protest Viktor Orbán at World Cup qualifier: "Orbán is not welcome in Dublin."

Viktor Orbán's presence in Dublin for the Ireland versus Hungary football game has been met with protest on and off the pitch over his anti-LGBTQ+ and pro-Israel policies.

The Hungarian Prime Minister attended the World Cup 2026 qualifier at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday as part of a three-day visit to Ireland. The trip was organised by the Hungarian Football Association and involved no plans for official engagements.

Orbán's administration has faced international criticism for policies such as banning LGBTQ+ pride celebrations and vocally supporting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Friday, Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said, "Orbán is not welcome in Dublin."

"He is a man who has banned Pride in Budapest, who has aligned himself with Putin while Ukrainians are suffering and dying and who stands for everything that football rejects," Ó Ríordáin said.

"Football is about unity, diversity and bringing people together. Orbán represents division, repression and hate."

Ó Ríordáin added that Dublin is a "place of welcome and solidarity, not one that tolerates bigots and autocrats" and "Irish people will not sit quietly while Orbán struts into our capital."

Ó Ríordáin, alongside Labour's LGBTQ+ section, held a protest against what they called "sportswashing of authoritarianism" outside the stadium during the game.

After Orbán touched down Saturday, Green Party Leader Roderic O'Gorman said, "Unlike in Hungary, we don't try and ban people from participating in culture and sporting events."

"I think the vast majority of Irish people would reject his sort of politics, but let him come and let him see what proper freedom looks like," O'Gorman said.

At the match, Irish fans unfurled a banner reading "Show Israel the Red Card" and flew Palestinian flags along with tricolours in the stands.

‘Show Israel the Red Card’ - banner from Ireland fans behind the goal pic.twitter.com/Ev3VCduSPf

— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) September 6, 2025

KNEECAP reposted an image of the banner with "Fuck Viktor Orbán" in the caption, a common sentiment at their shows after they were banned from Hungary in July.

On July 24, a government spokesperson announced the band were prohibited from entering Hungary and performing their planned Sziget Festival set over claims of hate speech.

KNEECAP responded to the ban on social media, calling it "political distraction and a further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people."

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) posted the same image, writing that they "absolutely love to see it!"

"The FAI should listen to the fans and insist that UEFA and FIFA expel apartheid Israel for its genocidal crimes against Palestinians," IPSC said.

Both UEFA and FIFA have faced criticism for banning Russia from competitions following the invasion of Ukraine, but allowing Israel to continue competing despite its ongoing attacks on Gaza.

The game ended in a 2-2 draw.

Ireland is set to continue their World Cup qualification campaign for an away game against Armenia on Tuesday.