His football initiative has introduced a new historical dimension to Hungary, where remnants of a tumultuous past can be seen in the communist-era tower blocks, majestic Austro-Hungarian structures, and Ottoman baths.
While the Pancho Arena holds a special place in his heart, the national stadium in Budapest stands as the most prominent symbol of his and the government’s embrace of football.
Resembling Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena in both size and architecture but constructed at a cost three times higher, it occupies the former grounds of the dilapidated, historic Nepstadion.
During an otherwise uneventful 1-0 friendly victory against Estonia in March 2023, the most noteworthy incident arose as a singular phrase echoed from the stadium’s public address system.
The stadium’s announcer intoned: “Down with Trianon, down with Trianon.”
The Trianon Treaty was the 1920 agreement that diminished Hungary’s territory by two-thirds.
Millions of ethnic Hungarians still live within the boundaries of pre-Trianon Greater Hungary—the historical empire that was established before Austria-Hungary’s defeat in World War One.
The stadium announcer was simply mirroring Orban’s stance. Four months earlier, the prime minister had shared a video congratulating winger Balazs Dzsudzsak on his retirement from international play.
Around Orban’s neck was a scarf emblazoned with an image of Greater Hungary.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier that year, Hungary’s ambassador was called upon to address yet another perceived claim on its land by Ukraine. Romania, which acquired Transylvania in 1920 and still has a population of 1.2 million ethnic Hungarians, issued a statement of “firm disapproval” regarding Orban’s display.
For numerous Hungarian fans, this gesture resonated with a profound sense of historical grievance.
As the public address system lamented the loss of former Hungarian lands, with war ongoing just across the border in Ukraine—home to around 200,000 ethnic Hungarians—there was a noticeable lack of surprise among the crowd, revealing how intertwined football has become with nationalist fervor under Orban’s regime.
“The essence of football mirrors the essence of politics,” stated Orban, recognized as the most prominent pro-Russian voice within the European Union.
“The key question isn’t where the ball is right now—everyone can observe that—but rather, where the ball is going to be…
“If you can anticipate what will happen before others do, you can respond swiftly and secure victory.”
