Czech Republic at the World Cup 2026: Squad, Fixtures, Odds and Best SA Sportsbook
Czech Republic are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2006. They landed in Group A with hosts Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea. Coach Ivan Hašek took over in March 2024 and turned the team around. This is the full Czech guide for South African bettors.
Czech Republic at the World Cup 2026
Group A · FIFA World Cup 2026
| Date | Match | Venue | Round | Preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 12/06, 04:00 SAST |
 South Korea
v
Czech Republic
|
Estadio Akron | Group Stage – 1 | Preview → |
| Thu 18/06, 18:00 SAST |
Czech Republic
v
 South Africa
|
Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Group Stage – 2 | Preview → |
| Thu 25/06, 03:00 SAST |
Czech Republic
v
 Mexico
|
Estadio Azteca | Group Stage – 3 | Preview → |
How Czech Republic qualified
Czech Republic finished second in UEFA qualifying Group L behind Croatia. They picked up 19 points from 10 matches, won the home meeting with Croatia 1-0, and qualified with a game to spare in October 2025.
The turnaround under Hašek was the story. The Czechs went out of Euro 2024 at the group stage and looked drift-prone. The federation moved fast. Hašek came in for Jaroslav Šilhavý in March 2024 and won 7 of his first 10 World Cup qualifiers.
The qualification meant a lot for a country that has been at every major tournament since 1996 but missed the last three World Cups. Czech fans have not seen their team at a World Cup since the Germany 2006 disaster.
Group A breakdown
Czech Republic are the third seed in Group A on most rankings. Mexico are the hosts. South Korea bring Premier League pace through Son. South Africa are the unknown. Czech need to grind out points where they can.
| Date (SAST) | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 12/06, 04:00 |  South Koreav Czech Republic | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| Thu 18/06, 16:00 | Czech Republicv South Africa | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Thu 25/06, 03:00 | Czech Republicv Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
The Bafana game is the swing match. Both sides will see it as a must-win. The 16:00 SAST kick-off in Atlanta makes it the most watchable of the Czech games for South African viewers.
Group rivals: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea.
The squad: who to watch
Hašek picked a 23-player core for qualifying. Most of the names will travel to the World Cup.
Patrik Schick is the headline striker. Bayer Leverkusen forward, 30 years old at the World Cup, sharp finisher with either foot. He scored at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 and is the Czechs’ top international scorer of the past five years.
Tomáš Chorý (#19, age 30) is the physical option up front. Big target man for Plzeň, strong in the air, scored 8 in qualifying.
Tomáš Souček is the midfield rock. West Ham captain, dominant in both boxes, scored 4 goals in qualifying from set pieces alone. The defining Czech player of the last five years.
Adam Hložek brings flair off the bench. Hoffenheim winger, 24 years old in 2026, capable of beating a man and producing the unexpected.
In goal, Jindřich Staněk has held the number one shirt since 2024. Slavia Prague keeper, good shot stopper, the position is settled.
How Czech Republic play under Hašek
Hašek favours a 4-2-3-1 with Souček anchoring the midfield. The double pivot is Souček plus either Pavel Šulc or Lukáš Provod. Souček is the deeper of the two.
Czech build slowly from the back, work the ball wide, and look for crosses to Schick or Chorý. They are not a pressing side. They sit in a mid-block and wait for the moment to break.
Set pieces are the secret weapon. Souček is huge from corners. Chorý is even bigger. Six of the 19 Czech goals in qualifying came from dead-ball moves.
Weaknesses: pace on the wings, full-back depth, midfield creativity if Souček is marked out. Strong sides can dominate possession against the Czechs.
Czech World Cup history
Czechoslovakia was a major football nation before the 1993 split. The Czechoslovak teams reached two World Cup finals (1934 and 1962) and one Euros final (1976, which they won on penalties against West Germany).
As an independent nation since 1993, the Czech Republic has only made three World Cups: 1996 (debut tournament), Korea/Japan 2006, and now 2026 (their first since 2006). At Euros, the Czechs have been much more present, including a runner-up finish in 1996 and the semi-finals in 2004.
The 2006 World Cup ended in the group stage despite a 3-0 opening win over the USA. Now, 20 years on, the Czechs want a Round of 32 spot at minimum.
Betting on Czech Republic from South Africa
SA bookmakers price the Czechs as the third seed in Group A. Outright odds sit around 250/1 to 400/1. The market expects a group stage exit.
- Czech Republic to qualify from Group A. Priced around 3.40 to 3.80 across SA books. Worth a small stake under the 8 third-placed teams advance rule.
- Czech Republic v South Africa, draw. The match where both teams might play not to lose. Draw priced around 3.10 on Gbets and YesPlay.
- Patrik Schick anytime tournament scorer. Around 2.10 on most SA books. Schick has scored in every major tournament he has played.
- Tomáš Souček headed goal in the tournament. Special market on Gbets at 4.50. Souček lives on corners. Three of his last five Czech goals came from headers.
For Czech markets, Gbets and Pokerbet tend to offer the deepest European specials. Cloudbet is the option for crypto deposits and live in-play.
How to watch Czech Republic in South Africa
SuperSport on DStv carries every match. The Czech v Bafana game at 16:00 SAST on 18/06/2026 is the most watchable. Expect SABC to broadcast it on free-to-air given Bafana involvement.
The Korea game kicks off at 04:00 SAST. The Mexico game at 03:00 SAST. Both are middle-of-the-night fixtures for South African viewers. PVR is the friend.
DStv Stream and DStv Now cover all matches via the standard subscription.
FAQ: Czech Republic at the 2026 World Cup
When does Czech Republic play their first match?
Czech Republic face South Korea on Friday 12/06/2026 at 04:00 SAST. The match is at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico. It is the second Group A fixture after Mexico v South Africa.
Who is Czech Republic’s manager?
Ivan Hašek took charge in March 2024 after Jaroslav Šilhavý left following a poor Euro 2024. Hašek is a former Czechoslovak international and has managed clubs in Czechia, Japan, and France.
How long since Czech Republic were at the World Cup?
20 years. The Czechs last appeared at Germany 2006, where they went out in the group stage despite a 3-0 win over the USA. They missed 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. The 2026 tournament is the first since the long absence.
Is Patrik Schick fit for the World Cup?
Schick is the Czech captain and main striker for the 2026 tournament. He plays for Bayer Leverkusen and has been Czech’s main goal threat at Euro 2020, Euro 2024, and through the 2026 qualifying campaign.
Where can South Africans bet on Czech Republic?
Any sportsbook licensed by a South African provincial gambling board. Gbets, Pokerbet, YesPlay, Betshezi, and Cloudbet all carry full Czech markets for the 2026 World Cup, including outright odds and per-match specials.
More on the World Cup
Group A rivals: Mexico · South Africa · South Korea
Other: Back to the World Cup 2026 hub · All football fixtures · SA sportsbook reviews