The Czechia World Cup 2026 squad is set, and it ends a 20-year wait. Head coach Miroslav Koubek named his final 26 players on May 31, with Wolves defender Ladislav Krejčí as captain. At 74, Koubek is the oldest manager at the 2026 tournament. Czechia reached the finals the hard way, surviving two penalty shootouts in the playoffs.
Koubek leaned heavily on the domestic league. Ten players come from reigning Czech champions Slavia Prague, the backbone of the squad. Souček and Wolves defender Ladislav Krejčí bring Premier League experience, while Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick leads the line. This is Czechia’s 10th World Cup appearance, counting the Czechoslovakia era. They sit in Group A with co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.
This is your full Czechia squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Czechia 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Lukáš Horníček | Braga | 23 |
| GK | Matěj Kovář | PSV Eindhoven | 26 |
| GK | Jindřich Staněk | Slavia Prague | 30 |
| DF | Vladimír Coufal | TSG Hoffenheim | 33 |
| DF | David Douděra | Slavia Prague | 28 |
| DF | Tomáš Holeš | Slavia Prague | 33 |
| DF | Robin Hranáč | TSG Hoffenheim | 26 |
| DF | Štěpán Chaloupek | Slavia Prague | 23 |
| DF | David Jurásek | Slavia Prague | 25 |
| DF | Ladislav Krejčí (C) | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 27 |
| DF | Jaroslav Zelený | Sparta Prague | 33 |
| DF | David Zima | Slavia Prague | 25 |
| MF | Lukáš Červ | Viktoria Plzeň | 25 |
| MF | Vladimír Darida | Hradec Králové | 35 |
| MF | Lukáš Provod | Slavia Prague | 29 |
| MF | Michal Sadílek | Slavia Prague | 27 |
| MF | Hugo Sochůrek | Sparta Prague | 17 |
| MF | Alexandr Sojka | Viktoria Plzeň | 23 |
| MF | Tomáš Souček | West Ham United | 31 |
| MF | Pavel Šulc | Olympique Lyonnais | 25 |
| MF | Denis Višinský | Viktoria Plzeň | 23 |
| FW | Adam Hložek | TSG Hoffenheim | 23 |
| FW | Tomáš Chorý | Slavia Prague | 31 |
| FW | Mojmír Chytil | Slavia Prague | 27 |
| FW | Jan Kuchta | Sparta Prague | 29 |
| FW | Patrik Schick | Bayer Leverkusen | 30 |
(C) = captain. Squad as confirmed on May 31, 2026. Ages are as of June 11, 2026, the tournament’s opening day.
For all 48 team squads, see our World Cup 2026 squads hub.
Quick Stats
Czechia’s squad is built on the domestic league and a small core of Europe-based stars. Key numbers:
- Average age: about 27 years
- Most-capped player: Tomáš Souček (89 caps)
- Top scorer in the squad: Patrik Schick (25 international goals)
- Slavia Prague players: 10
- Premier League players: 2 (Tomáš Souček, Ladislav Krejčí)
- Bundesliga players: 3 (Vladimír Coufal, Robin Hranáč, Adam Hložek)
- Youngest player: Hugo Sochůrek (17)
- Oldest player: Vladimír Darida (35)
- World Cup experience: none, this is Czechia’s first finals since 2006
Key Players to Watch in the Czechia World Cup 2026 Squad
Patrik Schick, Bayer Leverkusen. Schick is Czechia’s biggest goal threat. The 30-year-old striker has 25 international goals and scored four times in qualifying. He is a Bundesliga treble winner, remembered worldwide for his halfway-line strike against Scotland at Euro 2020. If he stays fit, Czechia have a chance.
Tomáš Souček, West Ham United. Souček is the squad’s most experienced player with 89 caps. The 31-year-old midfielder breaks up play and arrives late in the box for goals. His energy and aerial threat set the tone for the side. He drives Czechia from the centre of the park.
Pavel Šulc, Olympique Lyonnais. Šulc was the playoff hero. The 25-year-old attacking midfielder scored during Czechia’s tense March shootout run past Ireland and Denmark. He links midfield and attack and gives Czechia creativity in the final third.
Ladislav Krejčí, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Krejčí is Czechia’s captain and anchors the defence. The 27-year-old centre-back made the move to the Premier League with Wolves and brings composure on the ball. He reads danger early and steps into midfield to start attacks. He leads Koubek’s organised back line.
Adam Hložek, TSG Hoffenheim. Hložek gives Czechia attacking flexibility. The 23-year-old can play across the front line and offers pace in behind. He already has more than 40 caps despite his age and can change a tight game from the bench.
Czechia World Cup 2026 Schedule
Czechia play their group stage across Mexico and the United States. Local kick-off times are listed in both Eastern Time (ET) and Central European Summer Time (CEST) for fans at home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (CEST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 11 | South Korea | Guadalajara Stadium (Estadio Akron), Guadalajara | 10:00 PM | 4:00 AM (June 12) |
| June 18 | South Africa | Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Atlanta | 12:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| June 24 | Mexico | Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca), Mexico City | 9:00 PM | 3:00 AM (June 25) |
Czechia open against South Korea in Guadalajara, then meet South Africa in Atlanta before facing co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. Group positions are confirmed from the December 5, 2025 draw, and all kickoff times follow the official 2026 World Cup fixture schedule. The opener kicks off at 10:00 PM ET, which is 4:00 AM for Czech fans back home.
How Czechia Qualified for World Cup 2026
Czechia took the hard road to 2026. They finished second in UEFA qualifying Group L behind Croatia, winning five of eight games. Both defeats came away, 5-1 at Croatia and 2-1 in the Faroe Islands. Schick scored twice in the opening 2-1 win over the Faroes. Sixteen points sent them to the March playoffs.
The Path D semi-final went to the wire. The Republic of Ireland led 2-0 in Prague on March 26 before Czechia hit back to draw 2-2, with Patrik Schick among the scorers. They won 4-3 on penalties to reach the final.
The final was just as tense. Czechia drew 2-2 with Denmark in Prague on March 31, then won the shootout 3-1 to seal their place. It booked a first World Cup since 2006. For the full record, see Czechia’s World Cup history.
Head Coach: Miroslav Koubek
Miroslav Koubek is the oldest coach at the 2026 World Cup at 74. The Prague-born former goalkeeper began managing in 1983. He won the Czech league title with Viktoria Plzeň in 2015 as a relative veteran, and later had spells with Bohemians and Hradec Králové.
A strong third stint at Plzeň earned Koubek the national job permanently. He replaced Ivan Hašek, who left after Czechia missed automatic qualification. Jaroslav Köstl oversaw the 6-0 win over Gibraltar in November before Koubek took charge for the playoffs.
Koubek favours an organised, experienced spine. Souček shields the back four, Schick leads the attack, and the Slavia Prague core gives the team familiarity. Expect a pragmatic, counter-attacking approach against stronger opponents.
Group A at a Glance
Czechia landed in an open Group A with no European heavyweight. FIFA rankings below are as of April 1, 2026.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 15 | 18th | Quarter-finals (1970, 1986) |
| South Korea | 25 | 12th | Fourth place (2002) |
| Czechia | 41 | 10th | Runners-up (1934, 1962) |
| South Africa | 60 | 4th | Group stage |
Mexico carry home advantage and a loud crowd at the Estadio Azteca. South Korea bring pace and Son Heung-min on the break. South Africa return for the first time since 2010. Czechia’s two runners-up finishes came as Czechoslovakia, but this is a winnable group. A good start could push them toward second place or one of the eight best third-placed spots that reach the Round of 32.
FAQ About Czechia World Cup Squad 2026
What is Czechia’s nickname, and what colours do they wear?
Czechia are known as Nároďák, meaning The National Team. They play in a red home kit made by Puma, with white as the change strip. Red has been their primary home colour since the country first competed in 1994.
Who is Czechia’s all-time leading scorer?
Jan Koller is Czechia’s all-time top scorer with 55 goals. The towering striker set the record during the 2000s and is long retired. Among the current squad, Patrik Schick leads the way as the main goal threat.
Has Czechia ever beaten Mexico?
Czechia beat Mexico 2-1 in a 2000 friendly, their only meeting as an independent nation. At the 1962 World Cup, Czechoslovakia scored after 15 seconds against Mexico but lost 3-1. The June 24 group game in Mexico City is a fresh test.
How did Czechia perform at Euro 2024?
Czechia exited Euro 2024 in the group stage, finishing fourth in Group F after losing to Portugal and Turkey and drawing with Georgia. That exit fed into the changes that brought Miroslav Koubek to the job.
Who holds Czechia’s all-time caps record?
Goalkeeper Petr Čech holds the record with 124 caps from 2002 to 2016. Current captain Tomáš Souček is climbing the list with 89 caps.
Czechia’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Czechia World Cup 2026 squad blends a veteran spine with a tight domestic core. Souček, Coufal and Schick give it experience, and ten Slavia Prague players add cohesion. This is a team that grinds out results, and it took two shootouts to get here.
The best-case scenario is second place behind Mexico and a Round of 32 berth. Czechia will need Schick fit and firing, and a fast start against South Korea would settle nerves. They won’t scare the favourites, but in an even Group A, they stand a chance of advancing for the first time since 2006.
