UEFA · Group A
Czechia at FIFA World Cup 2026
Czechia qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the first 48-team edition, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Group A opponents
Czechia plays the following three teams in the group stage. Top 2 advance to the Round of 32; the 3rd-placed team can still advance via the best-3rd-placed playoff route (8 of 12 third-placed teams qualify).
Czechia fixtures
Czechia in the tournament
Czechia arrives at the 2026 World Cup ranked #42 in the FIFA World Ranking with a tournament strength rating of 68/100. UEFA (Europe) sends 16 teams to the 2026 expanded tournament, the largest single-confederation allocation.
The 48-team format puts Czechia in Group A with Mexico, South Africa, South Korea. On FIFA ranking alone, the group averages #35, with Czechia in the middle of the pack. Top 2 advance automatically; the best 3rd-placed teams (8 of 12) also qualify for the Round of 32.
Czechia squad for World Cup 2026
Announced June 1, 2026 · 26 players · Head coach: Miroslav Koubek
Czechia return to the World Cup after missing 2018 and 2022. At 74, Miroslav Koubek becomes the oldest coach at the tournament -- replacing Ivan Hasek mid-cycle. Tomas Soucek (West Ham), Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen), and Adam Hlozek lead a squad built around aerial dominance and Slavia Prague's domestic core. Open against South Korea in Guadalajara on June 11.
Goalkeepers3
- Matej Kovar(PSV Eindhoven)
- Jindrich Stanek(Slavia Prague)
- Lukas Hornicek(Braga)
Defenders9
- Vladimir Coufal(Hoffenheim)
- Tomas Holes(Slavia Prague)
- Ladislav Krejci(Wolves)
- David Zima(Slavia Prague)
- Jaroslav Zeleny(Sparta Prague)
- David Jurasek(Slavia Prague)
- David Doudera(Slavia Prague)
- Robin Hranac(Hoffenheim)
- Stepan Chaloupek(Slavia Prague)
Midfielders9
- Tomas SoucekCaptain(West Ham)
- Vladimir Darida(Hradec Kralove)
- Lukas Provod(Slavia Prague)
- Michal Sadilek(Slavia Prague)
- Pavel Sulc(Lyon)
- Lukas Cerv(Viktoria Plzen)
- Hugo Sochurek(Sparta Prague)
- Alexandr Sojka(Viktoria Plzen)
- Denis Visinsky(Viktoria Plzen)
Forwards5
- Patrik Schick(Bayer Leverkusen)
- Adam Hlozek(Hoffenheim)
- Jan Kuchta(Sparta Prague)
- Mojmir Chytil(Slavia Prague)
- Tomas Chory(Slavia Prague)
Sources: Sports Illustrated, Al Jazeera. Squads may change due to injury or disciplinary action before the tournament.
Frequently asked questions about Czechia
When does Czechia play at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Czechia plays 3 scheduled group-stage matches starting June 12, 2026. The opener is against KOR. See the full fixtures list below for every kickoff time and venue.
What group is Czechia in at the World Cup 2026?
Czechia is in Group A alongside Mexico, South Africa, South Korea. The top two from each group advance to the Round of 32, plus the 8 best 3rd-placed teams across all 12 groups.
What is Czechia's FIFA ranking?
Czechia entered the FIFA World Cup 2026 ranked #42 in the FIFA World Ranking. This places them in the top 50 globally. Rankings update through the qualification cycle.
Can Czechia win the World Cup 2026?
Czechia's pre-tournament strength rating is 68/100, derived from FIFA ranking, recent form, and squad depth. They are competitive group-stage participants; advancing to the knockouts would be a strong tournament. Try them in the bracket predictor to test your scenario.