World Cup 2026

Czechia

Czechia's World Cup Return: Twenty Years in the Wilderness, One Shot at Glory

Out at the group stageFIFA #42Group A — Mexico · South Africa · South Korea

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The Story

Back on football's biggest stage for the first time since 2006, the Czech Republic arrive as hungry underdogs with genuine quality. Ranked 42nd, they face a Group A gauntlet — Korea, South Africa, Mexico — that will demand every ounce of Miroslav Koubek's tactical ingenuity to escape.

How they qualified

Czechia reached the 2026 World Cup the hard way — finishing runners-up in UEFA qualifying before battling through the play-offs in a nervy penalty shootout to finally punch their ticket. It was a campaign of grit and resilience rather than comfort, and that fighting spirit has become the identity this squad carries into North America.

Why watch

Koubek's fluid 3-4-2-1 is a tactical puzzle worth unpicking — explosive wing-backs, a midfield engine in Souček, and Schick's Bundesliga menace up top. An underdog with legitimate threats and something to prove after two decades away? That's exactly the kind of story neutral fans live for.

Squad spotlight

Players to Know

The Star

Patrik Schick

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen's Czech talisman, Patrik Schick is the focal point of Czechia's attacking ambitions at this World Cup.

Why they matter

Schick is the name opponents game-plan around. His Bundesliga pedigree and big-game instincts make him Czechia's most potent weapon — the forward capable of turning a tight Group A contest on a single moment of brilliance.

Watch for

His movement inside the box and ability to hold up play under pressure while waiting for runners. Against Korea's high defensive line, Schick's runs in behind could be the tactical key that unlocks the entire match.

The Veteran

Tomáš Souček

West Ham United

West Ham's Tomáš Souček is Czechia's heartbeat — a defensive midfielder who covers every blade of grass and leads by example.

Why they matter

Souček is the connective tissue between defence and attack in Koubek's system. His Premier League-hardened durability makes him indispensable in a group where Czechia must be compact against Mexico and South Africa and clinical against Korea.

Watch for

His box-to-box influence — breaking up opposition build-up one moment, arriving late into the penalty area the next. Souček's ability to do the unglamorous work while still posing a goal threat is genuinely elite.

The X-Factor

Adam Hlozek

TSG Hoffenheim

TSG Hoffenheim's Adam Hložek is Czechia's most dynamic attacking option — unpredictable, direct, and capable of producing magic from nothing.

Why they matter

Where Schick is the reference point, Hložek is the chaos agent. His ability to operate between the lines in Koubek's 3-4-2-1 gives Czechia a second dimension in attack that teams ranked well above them will struggle to plan for.

Watch for

His movement off the ball and willingness to take players on in tight spaces. In a tournament where margins are razor-thin, one Hložek moment of improvisation could be the difference between group-stage elimination and a run.

The Glue Guy

Vladimír Coufal

TSG Hoffenheim

Now at TSG Hoffenheim, Vladimír Coufal is the experienced right wing-back upon whom Koubek's entire defensive system is built.

Why they matter

Koubek's 3-4-2-1 lives and dies on the energy of its wing-backs, and Coufal is the engine on the right flank. His ability to defend one-on-one and still provide width and crosses going forward is fundamental to how Czechia intend to play all three group games.

Watch for

The relentless up-and-down shuttling that defines wing-back play at its highest level. Against Mexico's wide threats and Korea's pace on the break, how Coufal manages his defensive duties without sacrificing attacking output will be one of the tournament's most interesting tactical subplots.

The Breakout Candidate

Pavel Sulc

Olympique Lyonnais

Olympique Lyonnais attacking midfielder Pavel Sulc is the freshest name on this squad — and potentially its most exciting wildcard.

Why they matter

Sulc's Ligue 1 experience at Lyon gives him a profile unlike most of his Czech teammates. Playing behind Schick in Koubek's system, he has the license to be creative and unpredictable — the kind of player who thrives when opponents haven't fully scouted him.

Watch for

His combination play in tight spaces and willingness to shoot from distance. If Czechia are going to pull off a genuine upset in Group A, chances are Sulc's invention will be at the heart of it.

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