Thursday, 26 March
FIFA World Cup 2026 play-off semi-final
Czechia v Republic of Ireland, Fortuna Arena, 19.45
The week we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived.
All the focus on Ireland’s crucial World Cup playoff with Czechia has been on the Boys in Green, as Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side remain in with a shout of qualifying for their first World Cup finals since 2002.
With that in mind, it’s time to look at Ireland’s opponents. What can the Irish team expect when they face Czechia in Prague on Thursday night?
Notable Names
When looking through Czechia’s 25-man squad, a few names stand out above the rest.
Pro baráž o MS 2026 nominoval Miroslav Koubek tyto hráče! 🇨🇿⚽💪 #ROUTE2026
Více https://t.co/V8Kg90dijc pic.twitter.com/eecXXad46e
— Česká fotbalová reprezentace (@ceskarepre_cz) March 17, 2026
Many will certainly be familiar with their striker, Patrick Schick of Bayer Leverkusen. The 30-year-old has enjoyed another fine season with the German giants, notching 15 goals in all appearances. He has scored an impressive 96 goals in 202 appearances at the club and was a big part in them going unbeaten in 2023/24.
He also comes into this one in good form, having got on the scoresheet for his side twice in a 3-3 draw at Heidenheim on Saturday.
Schick’s goal record of 24 in 50 for Czechia, as well as his burly 6’2 frame, are sure to keep Ireland’s defenders on their toes in Prague.
Czechia’s captain is West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek. The 31-year-old has played 27 times in the Premier League for the Hammers this season, as well as scoring four goals, but has interestingly only played 56% of the available league minutes for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side this campaign.
Soucek brings a wealth of experience to the Czech team, having over 200 Premier League appearances to his name as well as 87 international caps.
Other names that Premier League fans will be familiar with include Wolves’ centre-half Ladislav Krecji and former West Ham stalwart Vladimir Coufal, who now plies his trade in Germany with Hoffenheim.
Former Manchester United understudy Matej Kovar, now at PSV Eindhoven, will most likely play in goal for the Czech side.
Advanced midfield pair Adam Karabec and Pavel Sulc both play with French giants Lyon, however the latter looks due to miss Thursday’s game through a hamstring injury.
New Manager
While Ireland made the decision this week to tie Heimir Hallgrimsson down for another qualifying campaign, Czech manager Miroslav Koubek will make his national team debut in the dugout on Thursday.
The vastly experienced 74-year-old has been a manager since 1983 and wrapped up his third spell as Viktoria Plzen gaffer in September.
As for his preferred playing style, he likes to play a 3-4-1-2 formation. Two men up top suits this team, as they went through the entirety of the last qualifying campaign with Schick being partnered by Red Star Belgrade centre-forward Tomas Chory.
However, it’ll be interesting to see whether Koubak implements his three at the back system from the off against Ireland.
Form
Unfortunately for Ireland, Czechia have been imperious at home in recent years.
They’ve been unbeaten in Prague on the last 16 outings, dating back to a 4-0 loss to Portugal in 2022. Their last outing was a 6-0 thumping of Gibraltar at home, a game in which six different players got on the scoresheet.
Just one of the eight goals they conceded during the qualifiers was at home, which came from Faroe Islands defender Gunnar Vatnhamar.
It’s important to note that this is Troy Parrot’s second game in this stadium in seven days, after his AZ Alkmaar side faced off against Sparta Praha in the UEFA Conference League last week.
Parrot’s two goals across the tie were enough to seal a 6-1 aggregate win for the Dutch outfit, and he’ll be up against Czech centre-half Jaroslav Zereny for the third consecutive week, should the 33-year-old play.
Czechia are a big and physical side, with most of their players standing at over six foot tall. Ireland will need to be fully switched on from set-pieces at both ends to get anything from this game.
The Past
It’s Ireland’s ninth meeting with Czechia, and they’ll be hoping for an improvement on their previous record.
Ireland have won two, drawn two, and lost four of the previous eight meetings.
The last meeting of the two sides came in 2012, when former Liverpool striker Milan Baros’ opener was cancelled out by an equaliser from Irish cult hero Simon Cox at the death.
Ireland have never beaten the Czech team in a competitive outing, having drawn and lost in the two European qualifiers against them in 2007. Our last win over Czechia was an international friendly in 2004, when Czechia had Balon D’Or winner Pavel Nedved and Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech in their ranks.
The odds were massively against Ireland to even get here, so Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men will look to go one better in Prague on Thursday night, and book a home playoff final with either Denmark or North Macedonia.