Reviewed by Sports Pulse Editorial and updated when source details change.
Miroslav Koubek named Czechia’s 54-man preliminary squad on May 12, 2026. The final 26 will be confirmed before June 2. Czechia returns to the World Cup after a 20-year absence — the longest gap in the nation’s modern football history — with a generation defined by veterans who have spent their primes waiting for this moment: Schick (29), Souček (31), Coufal (33), Holeš (32). Group A is unforgiving, with a co-host Mexico opening and South Korea’s generational consistency, but Czechia’s blend of Bundesliga and Premier League experience gives them a puncher’s chance.
Projected 26-man squad
Goalkeepers
| Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matěj Kovář | PSV Eindhoven | 26 | 8 |
| Antonín Kinský | Tottenham Hotspur | 22 | 2 |
| Jindřich Staněk | Slavia Praha | 30 | 12 |
Defenders
| Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladislav Krejčí | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 27 | 18 |
| Vladimír Coufal | TSG Hoffenheim | 33 | 46 |
| Tomáš Holeš | Slavia Praha | 33 | 28 |
| Robin Hranáč | TSG Hoffenheim | 25 | 6 |
| Martin Vitík | Bologna | 23 | 4 |
| David Zima | Slavia Praha | 25 | 22 |
| David Jurásek | Slavia Praha | 25 | 14 |
| Jaroslav Zelený | Sparta Praha | 33 | 8 |
| David Douděra | Slavia Praha | 28 | 4 |
Midfielders
| Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomáš Souček | West Ham United | 31 | 72 |
| Pavel Šulc | Olympique Lyonnais | 25 | 8 |
| Lukáš Provod | Slavia Praha | 29 | 22 |
| Pavel Bucha | FC Cincinnati | 28 | 4 |
| Michal Sadílek | Slavia Praha | 27 | 16 |
| Adam Karabec | Olympique Lyonnais | 22 | 2 |
| Kryštof Daněk | LASK Linz | 23 | 2 |
Forwards
| Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrik Schick | Bayer Leverkusen | 30 | 52 |
| Adam Hložek | TSG Hoffenheim | 23 | 34 |
| Tomáš Chorý | Slavia Praha | 31 | 8 |
| Mojmír Chytil | Slavia Praha | 27 | 10 |
| Jan Kuchta | Sparta Praha | 29 | 24 |
| Vasil Kušej | Slavia Praha | 25 | 2 |
| Václav Sejk | Sigma Olomouc | 24 | 2 |
Key inclusions
Patrik Schick — the Leverkusen marksman. Schick carries Czechia’s goalscoring hopes. He has 25 international goals in 52 caps — a strike rate of roughly one goal every two matches — and has been a key contributor in Leverkusen’s back-to-back Bundesliga title challenges. His aerial ability, two-footed finishing, and intelligent movement make him the most dangerous Czech forward since Jan Koller. At 30, this is his first and only World Cup at peak age.
Tomáš Souček — the midfield warrior. Souček has 72 caps and remains West Ham’s most reliable midfielder — a box-to-box presence who wins aerial duels, arrives late in the box, and provides leadership on the pitch. He was Czechia’s captain before Krejčí took the armband, and his partnership with Šulc (the creative Lyon midfielder) defines Czechia’s midfield identity: Souček destroys, Šulc creates.
Adam Hložek — the dynamic forward. Hložek was the most expensive Czech teenager in history when he moved to Bayer Leverkusen, and his loan-turned-permanent move to Hoffenheim has given him consistent Bundesliga minutes. He can play as a second striker, a wide forward, or a No. 10 — his tactical flexibility is Czechia’s most important attacking variable. If Schick starts at center-forward, Hložek plays just behind him as the link between midfield and attack.
Ladislav Krejčí — captain and defensive anchor. Krejčí’s move to Wolves brought him into the Premier League against the attackers he will face in this tournament. He is a left-footed center-back who can also play defensive midfield — a profile that allows Koubek to shift between a back four and a back three without substitutions. His leadership was tested through a difficult qualifying campaign and held.
Notable omissions
The missing generation of 2006-2022. Czechia’s 20-year World Cup absence means an entire generation of talent — Petr Čech, Tomáš Rosický, Marek Hamšík (Slovak, but same era) — never got the tournament their quality deserved. Schick and Souček are the bridge generation that finally broke through.
Václav Černý — the Rangers winger on the edge. Černý was a regular during qualifying but faces competition from Hložek, Kušej, and Sejk for the wide forward spots. If Koubek prioritizes pace and direct running, Černý makes the 26. If he prioritizes tactical flexibility, Černý may be the last cut.
Tactical outlook
Koubek’s 4-2-3-1 is pragmatic — two holding midfielders (Souček + Sadílek/Provod), Schick as the lone striker, and Hložek in the No. 10 role linking play. Width comes from the fullbacks (Coufal and Jurásek), not the wingers, who tuck inside to create central overloads. The system is designed to absorb pressure and strike on the counter — Czechia will cede possession against all three Group A opponents and trust Schick’s finishing to convert limited chances.
Set pieces are Czechia’s most reliable scoring source. Souček’s aerial threat from corners (he has scored 30+ headed goals across club and country) plus Schick’s movement in the box makes Czechia dangerous from every dead-ball situation — a critical equalizer against superior opponents like Mexico.
Group A outlook
| Match | Date | Venue | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs South Korea | June 11 | Estadio Akron, Zapopan | High |
| vs South Africa | June 18 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | Medium |
| vs Mexico | June 24 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | Very High |
The opener against South Korea is the swing match. Beat Korea Republic, and Czechia controls its own destiny entering the South Africa fixture. Lose, and the Mexico match becomes a must-win at Azteca — essentially a death sentence. The most realistic path: draw Korea Republic, beat South Africa (Broos’s side lacks World Cup experience), and hope 4 points + goal difference is enough to advance as a third-place qualifier.
Fan planning links
- Group A Analysis — South Korea, Czechia, South Africa, Mexico
- World Cup 2026 Squad Tracker — All 48 Teams
- Atlanta Match Guide — Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Mexico vs Czechia Preview — June 24, Azteca
Sources checked
- Football Association of the Czech Republic (FAČR) — 54-man preliminary squad, May 12, 2026
- KhelNow, Olympics.com, GhanaSoccerNet, Egypt Today — squad analysis, tactical preview, key player profiles
- UEFA — World Cup 2026 qualifying, Group F standings, playoff results
- transfermarkt — player age, caps, club data as of May 2026