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The Czech Football Association announced on June 29 that Miroslav Koubek stepped down as national team coach following the squad’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The association said in a statement posted on its social media accounts that the 74-year-old left by mutual agreement after both parties had previously decided to end their cooperation if the team failed to reach the Round of 32. Koubek had taken charge of the team in December 2025, according to federation records, and oversaw qualification for the tournament.
The Czech Republic collected only one point in Group A, according to the association’s match summary. The team drew with South Africa before falling 2-1 to South Korea and losing 3-0 to Mexico, which eliminated the side with two matches remaining in the group. The results left the Czech Republic at the bottom of the standings in a section that also featured the co-hosts and South Africa.
Koubek guided the Czech Republic back to the World Cup after a 20-year absence by winning European playoff ties against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark on penalties in March 2026, FIFA qualification data shows. The team’s previous appearance came at the 2006 tournament in Germany, where it also exited at the group stage, according to FIFA historical records. As Czechoslovakia the side reached the World Cup final in 1934 and 1962, per FIFA archives.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico and is scheduled to conclude on July 19, according to the tournament’s official schedule. Koubek briefly became the oldest coach to manage a team at the finals on the opening matchday before the record passed to another manager days later, a FIFA assessment found. The Czech side’s campaign drew criticism for its tactical choices and lack of goals, multiple outlets reported.
FIFA figures place the Czech Republic’s all-time World Cup record at 10 appearances including those as Czechoslovakia, with an overall mark of 12 wins, six draws and 18 losses. The association has not yet named a successor to Koubek, whose tenure produced two wins, three draws and two losses across seven matches, the federation’s statistics show. The resignation closes a short cycle that began with his appointment late last year.
