Czech Republic World Cup 2026 squad: Miroslav Koubek's latest selection ahead of the World Cup qualifying play-offs

The prospective Czech Republic World Cup 2026 squad feature so consistently in European Championship finals tournaments that it's perhaps surprising that this summer's event marks 20 years since they last qualified for the greatest show on earth.

Qualification for World Cup 2026 is still on the cards. After finishing second in Group L, Czech Republic were drawn into Path D of the UEFA play-offs.

They'll have home advantage against the Republic of Ireland in the semi-final and again if they reach the final against Denmark or North Macedonia, perhaps making them favourites. The prize is a place in World Cup Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.

Having missed out on qualification for four World Cups in a row for the first time in the history of either Czech Republic of Czechoslovakia, the two-time runners-up have all the incentive they need to reach the expanded 2026 tournament.

They were in a mini-league of one in their qualifying group, finishing six points behind Group L winners Croatia and four points above third-placed Faroe Islands.

Head coach Miroslav Koubek was appointed last December and his first squad includes 14 players from Czech clubs and two – West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek and Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Ladislav Krejci – from the Premier League.

Adam Hlozek of Hoffenheim misses out again as the end of an injury-hit Bundesliga campaign approaches, leaving Soucek and Patrik Schick as the team's leading goal threats.

Squad

Czech Republic World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection

• GK: Matej Kovar (PSV)
• GK: Martin Jedlicka (Banik Ostrava)
• GK: Lukas Hornicek (Braga)
• DF: Vladimir Coufal (Hoffenheim)
• DF: Tomas Holes (Slavia Prague)
• DF: Ladislav Krejci (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
• DF: Jaroslav Zeleny (Sparta Prague)
• DF: David Jurasek (Slavia Prague)
• DF: Robin Hranac (Hoffenheim)
• DF: Martin Vitik (Bologna)
• DF: Stepan Chaloupek (Slavia Prague)
• MF: Tomas Soucek (West Ham United)
• MF: Vladimir Darida (Hradec Kralove)
• MF: Lukas Provod (Slavia Prague)
• MF: Michael Sadilek (Slavia Prague)
• MF: Pavel Sulc (Lyon)
• MF: Lukas Cerv (Viktoria Plzen)
• MF: Adam Karabec (Lyon)
• MF: Tomas Ladra (Viktoria Plzen)
• MF: Denis Visinsky (Viktoria Plzen)
• MF: Pavel Bucha (Cincinnati)
• FW: Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen)
• FW: Mojmir Chytil (Slavia Prague)
• FW: Tomas Chory (Slavia Prague)
• FW: Jan Kliment (Sigma Olomouc)

Fixtures and results

Fixtures

• March 26, 2026: Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland, Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic

Recent results

• November 17, 2025: Czech Republic 6-0 Gibraltar, Andruv stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic
• October 12: Faroe Islands 2-1 Czech Republic, Torsvollur, Torshavn, Faroe Islands
• October 9: Czech Republic 0-0 Croatia, Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
• September 5: Montenegro 0-2 Czech Republic, Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro
• June 9: Croatia 5-1 Czech Republic, Opus Arena, Osijek, Croatia
• June 6: Czech Republic 2-0 Montenegro, Doosan Arena, Plzen, Czech Republic
• March 25: Gibraltar 0-4 Czech Republic, Estadio Algarave, Faro, Portugal
• March 22: Czech Republic 2-1 Faroe Islands, Malsovicka arena, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

Manager

Who is Czech Republic's manager?

The managerial career of 74-year-old Czech Republic boss Miroslav Koubek began in 1983. The Prague-born former goalkeeper has worked almost exclusively in what is now the Czech Republic, winning the league title as a relative veteran in 2015 during his second spell with Viktoria Plzen.

Subsequent periods as head coach of Bohemians and Hradec Kralove were followed by an impressive third stint in charge of Plzen, which ultimately led to Koubek's appointment as national team coach.

The Czechs' failure to qualify automatically for the World Cup spelled the end for former boss Ivan Hasek. Jaroslav Kostl oversaw the 6-0 win over Gibraltar in November before Koubek was given the job on a permanent basis.

Czech Republic's Star Player

Who is Czech Republic's star player?

Soucek is the Czech Republic captain and one of the most recognisable names to fans of the Premier League, but it's hard to look past the goalscoring record of Patrik Schick when looking for the player most likely to make an impact at World Cup 2026.

Now 30 years old, the imposing Bayer Leverkusen striker has perhaps fallen slightly short of the expectations many observers had for his international career, primarily because of injury and his team's lack of World Cup presence, but 24 goals in 50 appearances tells its own story.

Schick is a treble winner with Leverkusen and an occasional scorer of spectacular goals. He netted four times in the qualifying group and another couple in March would go a long way.

Best XI