Czechia Reach World Cup 2026 After 2 Shootout Wins — How Many Teams In World Cup 2026
Czechia are going to the World Cup for the first time in 20 years after two penalty shootout wins in the playoffs, and the answer to how many teams in world cup 2026 now includes a side that survived both on composure and stops from Matej Kovar. The return puts Miroslav Koubek’s squad into a June group phase that starts in Guadalajara, then moves through Atlanta and Mexico City.
Miroslav Koubek and the playoff route
The route in was narrow. Czechia beat the Republic of Ireland and Denmark on penalties in the playoffs, with Ladislav Krejci scoring in both matches and Kovar saving two penalties across the World Cup playoffs.
Koubek took over after Ivan Hasek was sacked during qualification following a historic defeat to the Faroe Islands. The change reset the campaign, and Czechia turned into a team that could survive tight games rather than lose them.
Soucek, Schick and the core
Tomas Soucek remains the midfield leader, while Patrik Schick is expected to be the main attacking weapon. Lukas Provod and Pavel Sulc are among the players expected to provide creativity, giving Czechia a spine that can work without needing a flood of chances.
That makes the margins around Kovar’s goal even sharper. Lukas Hornicek is pushing for the goalkeeping position, but the playoff run has already shown how quickly one save can decide whether Czechia stay home or fly to June’s tournament.
Dallas to Mexico City
Czechia will open against South Korea on 11 June in Guadalajara at 8pm local time, then face South Africa on 18 June in Atlanta at 12pm local time before closing against Mexico on 24 June in Mexico City at 7pm local time. The team base is in Dallas, and two of those matches will be played in Mexico at about 2,000 metres above sea level.
That schedule gives Koubek’s side long-distance travel, time-zone changes and altitude to manage across three group games. For a team that reached the tournament through two penalty shootout triumphs, the next test is not another single tie but three different conditions in nine days.
