Czechia

Czechia enter World Cup 2026 in Group A, where the early tests are Mexico, South Korea, and South Africa. Czechia have no title as an independent nation, but the old Czechoslovakia side finished runner-up in 1934 and 1962. The modern Czech World Cup story has been more limited, including a group-stage exit in 2006. The current squad is shaped around Patrik Schick, Tomas Soucek, and Vladimir Coufal, a core that gives the team recognizable quality in the moments that usually decide group-stage matches: set pieces, transition attacks, and pressure around the box.

For this tournament, the assignment is both tactical and psychological: start quickly, protect the middle of the pitch, and make the group feel uncomfortable before the knockout picture forms. Their path is built on physical clarity and efficiency. If Czechia can make dead balls, aerial duels, and Schick's finishing count, they can turn Group A into a demanding tactical fight. If Czechia can turn its best individual stretches into a full 90-minute platform, the campaign has room to grow beyond a simple participation story.