Czechia have secured their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026, ending a 20-year absence and returning to the global stage with renewed belief.
The team booked qualification through the UEFA play-offs, winning back to back penalty shootouts against Republic of Ireland and Denmark. Both matches tested their composure, but Czechia held their nerve to seal a dramatic return to the tournament.
Placed in Group A, Czechia will face co-hosts Mexico, alongside South Africa and South Korea. The group looks balanced, with no clear favourite, giving Czechia a realistic chance to compete for a place in the knockout stage.
The turnaround in form follows the arrival of coach Miroslav Koubek, who took charge in December 2025. The experienced manager replaced Ivan Hasek and quickly guided the team through a difficult qualification path.
Czechia finished second in their group behind Croatia before entering the play-offs. Against Ireland, they came back from two goals down to force penalties, while the tie against Denmark followed a similar pattern, with the team showing strong mentality under pressure.
Czech football has a rich World Cup history. As Czechoslovakia, they reached the final in 1934 and 1962. Their last quarter-final appearance came in 1990, while their most recent tournament as Czechia was in 2006.
With confidence growing, Czechia will look to build on that history and compete strongly in 2026.
Key players will be central to their hopes. Patrik Schick remains the main attacking threat, bringing experience and goal scoring ability from his time at Bayer Leverkusen. Midfielder Tomas Soucek continues to provide leadership and physical presence, while captain Ladislav Krejci offers stability in defence with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Czechia’s group stage fixtures begin against South Korea on June 11 in Mexico, followed by matches against South Africa in the United States and Mexico in Mexico City.
After two decades away, Czechia return to the World Cup with momentum, experience and a chance to surprise in a competitive group.
