Once powerhouses of the world game, Czechia have not appeared at a World Cup for 20 years. Now, after two dramatic shootout victories, they are back on the global stage.
Return to the World Cup
Czechia are set to compete at their first World Cup in two decades, aiming to revive the spirit of legendary Czech teams from the past. Since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic has qualified for every European Championship but only one World Cup. In their current form, they have made it to the tournament just once, exiting in the group stage in 2006.
A Lackluster Period
“The last two decades have been lacklustre in terms of what we've offered on the pitch,” said Zdenek Lukas of the Footglish podcast on the Mirror's Make Football Great Again podcast. At the 2006 World Cup, the Czech team boasted global stars like Pavel Nedved, Karel Poborsky, and Tomas Rosicky. The current squad has promising players but lacks the star power of a former Ballon d'Or winner.
Wolves centre-back Ladislav Krejci, now captain, has been key, scoring twice in the play-offs and netting two Premier League goals for relegated Wolves. He poses a threat from set-pieces. Another set-piece danger is West Ham’s Tomas Soucek. The 6ft 4ins midfielder has earned a reputation for timely goals and now holds the record for most Premier League goals by a Czech player, surpassing Patrick Berger.
“He is still one of the leaders even without the armband,” Zdenek said about Soucek.
Key Players
Czechia’s main goal source is likely Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Schick, who has scored 25 goals in 52 caps. He famously netted a wondergoal from the halfway line against Scotland at Euro 2020. With many top strikers missing from the tournament, Czechia will rely on Schick, who also shared the Golden Boot at Euro 2020 with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Other familiar faces include former West Ham teammate Vladimir Coufal and Tottenham’s Antonin Kinsky, though Kinsky has had a difficult season at Spurs, including a disastrous Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.
Road to Qualification
Both play-off victories came via penalty shootouts. In the semi-final, they fought back from 2-0 down in Prague to break Irish hearts. Against Denmark, they were underdogs but prevailed. Alongside Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea, Czechia have a good chance of progressing, though facing Mexico at the Estadio Azteca is daunting. “It would be a miracle if we somehow manage to get anything from that game against Mexico,” Zdenek admitted.
Leadership and Tactics
Veteran coach Miroslav Koubek, appointed in December 2025, will become the second oldest head coach in World Cup history, behind Curacao’s Dick Advocaat. He led Czechia through a tough qualifying campaign, finishing second in Group L with five wins, but suffered a shock defeat to the Faroe Islands. Koubek, who won the Czech top flight with Viktoria Plzen in 2015, is expected to be pragmatic, relying on set-pieces.
“We are running a lot and are good at heading the ball and set-pieces, but there’s no flair,” Zdenek said, highlighting the grit in the team.
Historical Context and Expectations
As Czechoslovakia, the team reached World Cup finals in 1934 and 1962. The Czech Republic reached the Euro 1996 final and the 2004 semi-final. However, expectations are modest. “We have to say first and foremost we are happy to make it to the tournament. If we make it out of the group that would be considered success,” Zdenek added.
Ranked below Mexico and South Korea but above South Africa, Czechia have a strong chance with three teams progressing from most groups. Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter.
