Veteran coach Miroslav Koubek has been tasked with leading Czechia to the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The 74-year-old, who has been given a two-and-a-half-year contract, has been brought in by the Czech Football Association ahead of the crunch UEFA Play-off clash with the Republic of Ireland on 26 March.
Should the Czechs beat Ireland at Slavia Prague’s Fortuna Arena, they will face either Denmark or North Macedonia in the play-off decider in Prague on 31 March. The winner will join co-hosts Mexico, Korea Republic and South Africa in Group A at the World Cup.
Koubek has coached for over 40 years, most recently at Viktoria Plzen. He replaces Ivan Hasek, who was dismissed following the 2-1 upset defeat by the Faroe Islands in October. Under interim coach Jaroslav Kostl, the Czechs finished second in Group L, six points behind Croatia.
“Me, and I am sure also the players, will do everything to be at the World Cup,” Koubeck told reporters.
The Czechs’ greatest World Cup successes came some time ago when, as Czechoslovakia, they finished runners-up in 1934 and 1962. The nation’s most recent World Cup appearance was at Germany 2006 where they were eliminated in the group stage.
