2026-06-04
Czechia beat Guatemala 3-1 in final US warm-up
A confident win in New Jersey completed preparations for the Group A opener vs South Korea.
Group A · · FIFA #41 · 251/1
Czech Republic
1740First World Cup since 2006, reached via two nerve-shredding penalty shootouts under 74-year-old Miroslav Koubek, the oldest head coach in the tournament.
Coach Miroslav Koubek (Czech) · since 2025-12
Matches
Key players
- Patrik SchickST · Bayer Leverkusen
Biggest goal threat with 25 international goals, four in qualifying
- Tomáš SoučekCM · West Ham United
Most-capped squad member (89 caps); breaks up play and scores late-arriving goals
- Ladislav KrejčíCB · Wolves
Captain bringing Premier League steel to the back line
- Pavel ŠulcAM · Lyon
Playoff hero who scored in the tense March shootout run past Ireland and Denmark
- Adam HložekFW · Hoffenheim
Back from long-term calf and foot injuries to bolster the attack
- Lukáš ProvodCM · Slavia Prague
Creative hub from the Slavia core that forms the squad's backbone
Injuries / doubts
- Adam Hložek - recovered from long-term calf and foot injuries in time to make the squad; no other major absences reported
Recent form
| 2026-06-04 | Guatemala | 3-1 W | Friendly |
| 2026-05-31 | Kosovo | 2-1 W | Friendly |
| 2026-03-31 | Denmark | 2-2 (won 3-1 pens) | UEFA playoff final |
| 2026-03-26 | Republic of Ireland | 2-2 (won 4-3 pens) | UEFA playoff semi-final |
| 2025-11-17 | Gibraltar | 6-0 W | WC qualifying |
| 2025-11-13 | San Marino | 1-0 W | Friendly |
News
2026-05-31
Koubek names final 26 after 2-1 Kosovo win
Wolves defender Ladislav Krejčí confirmed as captain, with ten players from champions Slavia Prague forming the squad's backbone.
2026-05-18
Hložek returns from injury in Czechia's preliminary World Cup squad
The Hoffenheim forward, out most of the season with calf and foot problems, was given warm-up games to prove fitness.