Return After 20 Years with Schick & Krejci
Czech Republic 2026 World Cup guide: Miroslav Koubek’s squad, captain Ladislav Krejci, striker Patrik Schick, Group A predictions and the Czechs’ first World Cup since 2006.
Czech Republic
The Czechs · UEFA · Group A
Everything at a glance
- Nickname
- Narodni tym "The National Team" · the Czechs
- Confederation
- UEFA
- FIFA Ranking
- 41st FIFA Men's World Ranking, April 2026
- Head Coach
- Miroslav Koubek Appointed permanently after Ivan Hasek's dismissal
- Captain
- Ladislav Krejci Wolverhampton Wanderers · named captain March 2026
- World Cup Appearances
- 2nd appearance (Czech Republic) Return after 20-year gap · first was 2006
- Best Finish
- Group stage (Czech Republic) Runners-up 1934 & 1962 as Czechoslovakia
- Group
- Group A Mexico, South Africa, South Korea
A proud footballing nation, back from the margins.
The Czech Republic return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2006, ending a 20-year absence that had become a source of national frustration for a footballing country with a proud heritage. They booked their place via the UEFA play-offs, beating Denmark 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the final; Krejci scored in extra time, but the shootout sealed qualification.The campaign was turbulent: long-time coach Ivan Hasek was sacked after a damaging qualifying loss, and Miroslav Koubek eventually took permanent charge to steer the side over the line. There was also drama around the armband, with veteran midfielder Tomas Soucek losing the captaincy to Wolves’ Krejci in March 2026. Up front, the team leans heavily on Bayer Leverkusen’s prolific striker Patrik Schick.
A story of revival and resilience — the dark-horse outsiders of Group A.
A story of revival and resilience
The Czechs are a story of revival and resilience. A nation with a glorious past, inherited from Czechoslovakia’s two World Cup final appearances and Euro 1996 runner-up finish, had drifted to the margins of major tournaments. This squad clawed its way back through the play-offs after a chaotic qualifying campaign that cost one coach his job and saw a contentious captaincy change.
At its heart is a fascinating contrast: the in-form, clinical Patrik Schick, one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga, leading a team that otherwise relies on grit, organisation and set-piece muscle.
They are the dark horse outsiders of Group A.
The bar, and the dream
Simply being back at the World Cup after 20 years is a milestone. As the second-lowest-ranked side in Group A behind only South Africa, the Czechs are underdogs against Mexico and South Korea. The expanded 48-team format, however, gives them a realistic route: a strong third-placed finish could be enough to advance. The genuine target is to be competitive, get a result against one of the group’s stronger sides, and chase a knockout berth that would mark a triumphant return.
The realistic route
In the 48-team format, the best third-placed teams advance — so a single result against Mexico or South Korea could be the difference between going home and a historic knockout berth.
Koubek’s likely 23
Projected from recent Czech selections under Koubek; squad finalisation is ongoing.
Goalkeepers
3- Lukas Hornicek
- Matej Kovar
- Jindrich Stanrk
Defenders
9- Vladimir Coufal
- David Doudera
- Tomas Holes
- Robin Hranac
- Stepan Chaloupek
- David Jurasek
- Ladislav Krejci
- Jaroslav Zeleny
- David Zima
Midfielders
9- Lukas Cerv
- Vladimir Darida
- Lukas Provod
- Michal Sadilek
- Hugo Sochurek
- Alexandr Sojka
- Tomas Soucek
- Pavel Sulc
- Denis Visinsky
Forwards
5- Adam Hlozek Bayer Leverkusen
- Tomas Chory
- Mojmir Chytil
- Jan Kuchta
- Patrik Schick
★ Likely starters. Projected from recent Czech selections under Koubek; some details hedged pending final squad confirmation.
The names that decide it
The team’s main attacking threat and a genuinely elite finisher, in superb form in the Bundesliga. Tall, technical and clinical. Fact: Scored a famous halfway-line goal against Scotland at Euro 2020 and has been a prolific Leverkusen marksman.
Versatile, composed and a leader by example, he can play centre-back or in midfield and even chips in with vital goals. Fact: Scored in extra time against Denmark to send the Czechs to the World Cup, then was named captain.
A towering box-to-box presence and aerial menace at both ends of the pitch, and a former captain. Fact: One of the most recognisable Czech names to Premier League fans, known for late runs into the box.
A dynamic, creative midfielder with a powerful shot who supplies energy and invention. Fact: A key chance-creator in the Czech qualifying campaign.
A direct, pacey wide attacker who provides width and an end product to stretch defences. Fact: Rebuilt his career impressively in club football to force his way into the side.
Breakout Player
Pavel Sulc — A rising attacking midfielder who has impressed at club level and could seize the World Cup stage to announce himself internationally.
Hedged: breakout role projected, pending final squad and minutes.
Most Underrated Player
Tomas Holes — The unglamorous defensive workhorse who breaks up play and provides the platform for others to shine. His tackling, reading of the game and tireless covering rarely get headlines but are vital to Czech solidity.
Discipline and aerial dominance are their calling cards.
Under Koubek, the Czechs are pragmatic and well-organised, typically lining up in a 4-2-3-1 or 3-5-2 with an emphasis on defensive shape, physicality and set-piece threat. With towering players like Soucek and Schick, dead-ball situations are a genuine weapon. They look to absorb pressure against stronger sides and hit on transitions, feeding Schick and using Cerny’s pace out wide. Discipline and aerial dominance are their calling cards.
By the numbers
Attack: Schick is top-class, but goalscoring beyond him is a question mark.
Midfield: Physical and hard-working, with Soucek and Provod providing presence and energy.
Defense: Organised and committed, led by the versatile Krejci.
Goalkeeping: Solid options in Kovar and Stanek without an elite name.
Depth: Reliant on a core group; thinner than the group’s bigger nations.
Experience: Limited recent World Cup pedigree after a 20-year absence.
A lineage that is rich, but complex.
The footballing lineage here is rich but complex. As Czechoslovakia, the nation reached two World Cup finals, finishing runners-up in 1934 and 1962, and remains one of the more storied early World Cup powers. After the split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, the Czechs famously reached the Euro 1996 final but struggled to translate that into World Cup qualification. Their lone World Cup appearance as an independent Czech Republic came in 2006, where they exited at the group stage despite a strong opening win. They then endured a 20-year drought until qualifying for 2026 via the play-offs, making this a long-awaited and emotional return.
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1934
Runners-up (as Czechoslovakia)
Reached the World Cup final — one of two final appearances for the nation.
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1962
Runners-up (as Czechoslovakia)
Reached the World Cup final for the second time.
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1993
Czech Republic established
After the split from Slovakia, the new nation began its own footballing chapter.
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1996
Euro 1996 final
Reached the European Championship final, narrowly losing to Germany.
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2006
Lone group-stage appearance
Their only World Cup as an independent Czech Republic; exited at the group stage despite a strong opening win.
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2026
The return
Back at the World Cup after a 20-year drought, qualifying via the UEFA play-offs.
The grass remembers everything
Two World Cup finals
As Czechoslovakia, the nation reached two World Cup finals — in 1934 and 1962.
A 20-year absence ends
2026 ends a 20-year World Cup absence; their last appearance was 2006.
Euro 1996 finalists
The Czechs reached the final of Euro 1996, narrowly losing to Germany.
Krejci’s decisive goal
New captain Ladislav Krejci scored the extra-time goal that helped seal qualification against Denmark.
A coaching change mid-qualifying
Coach Ivan Hasek was sacked mid-qualifying before Miroslav Koubek took permanent charge.
Schick’s halfway-line moment
Patrik Schick once scored from near the halfway line at Euro 2020.
Captaincy switch
Tomas Soucek was stripped of the captaincy in March 2026, with Krejci taking over.
A comeback story, two decades in the making
- A long-awaited comeback story, two decades in the making.
- Patrik Schick, one of Europe’s most clinical and watchable strikers.
- Underdog grit and set-piece drama against bigger names.
- A proud footballing nation reconnecting with its golden heritage.
- Genuine jeopardy: every match matters in their fight to advance.
Group-stage exit — with a live outside chance of a historic Round of 32 spot.
The Czech Republic face an uphill battle against Mexico and South Korea, and a group-stage exit is the most probable outcome. However, the expanded format and their set-piece threat keep a best-third-placed berth alive, especially if Schick is firing.
