PRAGUE — In a major boost for Czech Republic ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, attacking midfielder Adam Hložek has bounced back from a persistent long-term injury to earn a spot on head coach Miroslav Koubek’s 29-man preliminary roster, announced Thursday.
The 23-year-old Hoffenheim playmaker missed the vast majority of his club season this year after suffering a series of calf and foot injuries that sidelined him for months. But speaking to reporters following the squad announcement, Koubek confirmed Hložek has now regained full match fitness and will get the opportunity to prove his sharpness in pre-tournament warm-up fixtures. Hložek has not featured for the Czech national side since June 2024, during the final round of World Cup qualifying, and boasts 41 caps and four international goals to his name across his senior career.
Koubek’s preliminary squad includes three fresh-faced first-time call-ups, an exciting addition for a Czech side that is set to make its first World Cup appearance since the 2006 tournament. The newcomers are 17-year-old Sparta Prague midfielder Hugo Sochůrek, Viktoria Plzeň midfielder Alexandr Sojka, and Mladá Boleslav forward Christophe Kabongo. All three will get minutes on the pitch in the Czech Republic’s opening warm-up clash against Kosovo, scheduled for May 31 in Prague, Koubek confirmed.
Immediately after the Kosovo friendly, Koubek will trim his 29-man group down to the final 26-player tournament squad allowed by FIFA. The side will then travel to the United States for a final preparation match against Guatemala, set to take place in New Jersey on June 4.
Notably, two Slavia Prague players — forward Tomáš Chorý and defender David Douděra — were included in the preliminary squad despite being suspended by their club for the remainder of the domestic season and placed on the transfer list over disciplinary breaches earlier this year. The squad also retains all of the Czech Republic’s key regular starters, including West Ham United’s Tomáš Souček, Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick, and Lyon midfielder Pavel Šulc. Three additional players who featured in the side’s qualifying playoff run against Ireland and Denmark, including FC Cincinnati midfielder Pavel Bucha, were also named to the preliminary group despite having yet to earn senior international caps.
Once the final squad is confirmed, the Czech team will set up their tournament base camp in Mansfield, Texas, just outside Dallas. They kick off their Group A campaign against South Korea on June 12 in Guadalajara, Mexico, before facing South Africa in Atlanta on June 18 and wrapping up group stage play against tournament co-host Mexico in Mexico City on June 25.
For Czech football, this marks a historic milestone: the nation’s first qualification for the World Cup finals in 20 years.