Czech Republic Coach Miroslav Koubek Resigns Following World Cup Campaign

The Czech Republic national football team has announced the resignation of head coach Miroslav Koubek following their recent World Cup campaign. The decision was confirmed by the Czech Football Federation president, David Trunda, who stated that the resignation was offered by Koubek himself and accepted after an open discussion.

Miroslav Koubek, aged 74, took charge of the Czech national team in December 2025. His tenure was marked by a significant achievement as he guided the team to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time since 2006. This qualification was secured through dramatic playoff victories on penalties against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark in March 2026, highlighting a promising start to his leadership.

Despite this success, the Czech Republic's performance in the World Cup group stage fell short of expectations. Competing in Group A, the team finished at the bottom of the table after a series of challenging matches. They suffered defeats against South Korea (1-2) and Mexico (0-3), and managed only a draw against South Africa (1-1). This outcome was a disappointment considering the hopes raised by their qualification campaign.

In response to the World Cup results, Koubek took joint responsibility for the team's underwhelming performance. He also expressed regret that he would not be able to continue with his plans for the future development of the national team. Koubek cited a media campaign characterized by what he described as "half-truths and fabrications" as a factor influencing his decision to step down. The resignation was reached by mutual agreement between the coach and the federation.

Adding to the period of transition within Czech football, Patrik Schick, a key player for the national team, has also announced his retirement from international football at the age of 30. This follows the conclusion of the Czech Republic's World Cup campaign and signals further changes ahead for the squad.

Looking forward, the Czech Football Federation will now face the task of appointing a new head coach to lead the team through the next phase of their international journey. The upcoming fixtures and qualification campaigns will be critical in shaping the future direction of Czech football, as the team seeks to rebuild and improve following their recent World Cup experience.