Czech Republic Beat Kosovo 2-1 in Final World Cup Send-Off

Czech Republic said goodbye to their home fans with a win. As of June 2, 2026, Miroslav Koubek's side beat Kosovo 2-1 at epet ARENA in Prague — their final home friendly before flying out for the 2026 World Cup . Goals from Tomáš Ladra and Adam Hložek in a dominant first half did the job. Kosovo made it nervy late, but the result held.

This was the send-off the Czech Republic needed (as of June 2, 2026). Not perfect. But enough to head to Mexico with momentum.

How the match unfolded

The Czechs controlled the first half from the start (as of June 2, 2026). Ladra opened the scoring in the 12th minute . Twenty minutes later, Hložek doubled the lead to make it 2-0 before the break .

Koubek set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Horníček started in goal behind a back three of Krejčí, Hranáč, and Chaloupek. Hložek, Ladra, and Kuchta led the attack .

The second half was a different story. Kosovo grew into the match and pulled one back through substitute Lindon Emërllahu in the 80th minute . A Czech third goal was ruled out in stoppage time, which meant the final minutes were tense . But 2-1 it stayed.

11,102 fans at epet ARENA saw their team off with a victory .

What it means for World Cup form

Over the trailing 12 months, Czech Republic have posted 5 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses across 11 matches, scoring 19 goals and conceding 12 . That is a reasonable platform. Not dominant, but steady (as of June 2, 2026).

The concern is clear: they cannot switch off. Kosovo are ranked well below the kind of opposition they will face in Group A, yet the Czechs still allowed a late goal and had to manage a nervy finish. South Korea and Mexico will punish those lapses.

Key performers

The preliminary squad — 29 players

The roster has not been trimmed to its final form yet. Czech Republic currently carry 29 players in the preliminary pool.

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Group A schedule

Czech Republic's World Cup path:

The opener in Zapopan against South Korea is the match that will define Czech expectations. A result there — even a draw — would set the group up. A loss, and the South Africa match in Atlanta becomes a must-win before the daunting trip to the Azteca.

What to watch from here

Koubek used the Kosovo friendly to test his depth. Horníček got a start in goal. Ladra made his case from the first whistle. But the core spine — Souček (2 NT minutes in 12 months), Schick (26 NT minutes), Provod (zero NT minutes) — has been managed carefully. Those players will need to be sharp from the first whistle in Zapopan.

The 29-player pool will be cut to the final squad before the tournament. Decisions on the margins — a third keeper, the last midfield spot, whether Kabongo or Višinský travel — will hinge on fitness reports in the coming days.

Czech Republic have not been to a World Cup since 2006 in Germany. Twenty years is a long wait. The Kosovo result was modest in isolation, but it gave 11,102 fans at epet ARENA the thing they came for: one more win before the squad heads to Mexico.

When do Czech Republic play their first World Cup 2026 match?

Czech Republic open Group A on June 11 against South Korea at Estadio Akron in Zapopan . Their second group match is against South Africa on June 18 in Atlanta, followed by Mexico on June 24 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Who scored in the Czech Republic vs Kosovo friendly?

Tomáš Ladra scored the opener in the 12th minute, and Adam Hložek added the second in the 32nd minute . Kosovo's Lindon Emërllahu pulled one back in the 80th minute for the 2-1 final score .

How many players are in the Czech Republic preliminary squad?

The preliminary pool currently holds 29 players. The roster has not yet been trimmed to its final tournament size. Cuts are expected before the Group A opener on June 11.

What is Czech Republic's recent form heading into the World Cup?

Over the trailing 12 months, Czech Republic have won 5, drawn 4, and lost 2 of their 11 matches, scoring 19 and conceding 12 . Key results include a 6-0 win over Gibraltar and a 1-5 loss away to Croatia (as of June 2, 2026).

Who are the key players to watch for Czech Republic at the World Cup?

Patrik Schick leads the forward line with 22 club goals in 43 appearances at Bayer Leverkusen. Tomáš Souček captains the midfield from West Ham with 2,562 club minutes. Ladislav Krejčí anchors the defence with 630 NT minutes across 7 appearances, more than any other player in the squad (as of June 2, 2026).

See the projected squad
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