▲ Patrik Schick ⓒ Getty Images
By Shin In-seop, SPOTV News — The Czech Republic, South Korea’s opponent in the Group A opener, has unveiled its final World Cup roster.
On May 31 (KST), the Czech Football Association posted a 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico — on its official website.
Earlier, the Czechs released a 29-player provisional list on May 21 and trimmed three names to reach the final 26. Pavel Bucha (Cincinnati), Tomáš Ladra (Viktoria Plzeň) and Kristof Kabongo (Mladá Boleslav) were omitted from the final roster.
Expectations are that Czechia will field a full-strength side in the group stage. The squad includes a number of key players who are regulars in Europe’s top leagues.
The attack is spearheaded by Patrik Schick, with support from Adam Hložek, Tomáš Hori and Moimir Hitil. Schick has been in electric form for Bayer Leverkusen this season, netting 22 goals in 42 official matches. A joint top scorer at Euro 2020, he brings valuable tournament experience and is the primary threat Korea’s back line must neutralize.
In midfield, veteran Tomáš Souček — the country’s appearance-record holder — teams up with Pavel Šulc to control the center. Although Souček relinquished the captain’s armband during qualifying, he remains the squad’s on-field leader. His aerial presence on set pieces makes him a significant scoring threat. The defense features Ladislav Krejčí from Wolverhampton alongside Vladimír Coufal and Tomáš Holeš; Krejčí notably scored the decisive goal as captain in the playoff that secured Czechia’s World Cup berth.
One notable omission is goalkeeper Antonín Kinský, who once trained alongside Son Heung-min at Tottenham. Local outlets report Kinský was left off the final list due to a late-season surgery and related fitness concerns.
Czechia booked its place at the World Cup in dramatic fashion. In the European playoff final against Denmark, the teams were deadlocked 2-2 after extra time, and Czechia advanced by winning a tense penalty shootout. It’s their first World Cup appearance since 2006 in Germany. Once a European heavyweight — they finished runners-up at Euro 1996 — Czech football has struggled on the World Cup stage in recent years. Under coach Miroslav Koubek, who took charge late last year, the team has revamped its structure and ended that drought.
The squad assembled in Prague on May 28 and played a send-off friendly against Kosovo at Epet Arena on May 31. Tomáš Ladra opened the scoring in the 11th minute, and Adam Hložek added a second in the 31st. Despite conceding late, Czechia won 2-1 and left for the United States with momentum. The team will run a final rehearsal in New Jersey before moving to its base camp in Dallas, Texas.
South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, opens Group A against Czechia on June 12 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico. After that match, Korea will face South Africa and host nation Mexico.
▲ ⓒCzech Football Association SNS
■ 2026 CONCACAF World Cup — Czech Republic national team final roster (26 players)
GK: Lukáš Horníček (Braga), Matěj Kovář (PSV Eindhoven), Jindřich Staněk (Slavia Prague) DF: Vladimír Coufal, Robin Hranáč (both Hoffenheim), David Douděra, Tomáš Holeš, Štěpán Hallowpek, David Jurásek, David Zima (all Slavia Prague), Ladislav Krejčí (Wolverhampton), Jaroslav Zelený (Sparta Prague) MF: Lukáš Červ, Alexandr Sojka, Denis Višinský (all Viktoria Plzeň), Vladimír Darida (Hradec Králové), Lukáš Provod, Michal Sadílek (both Slavia Prague), Hugo Sohurek (Sparta Prague), Tomáš Souček (West Ham United), Pavel Šulc (Lyon) FW: Adam Hložek (Hoffenheim), Tomáš Hori, Moimir Hitil, Jan Kuchta (all Slavia Prague), Patrik Schick (Leverkusen)
Most Commented