PRAGUE — Adam Hložek, the attacking midfielder from Hoffenheim, has recovered from a long-term injury and been included in the Czech Republic preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hložek's Recovery
The 23-year-old missed most of the season due to calf and foot injuries but has returned to fitness, according to coach Miroslav Koubek. Hložek last played for the national team in June during World Cup qualifying.
He has earned 41 caps for the Czech Republic, scoring four goals internationally.
Squad Announcements
Koubek named three newcomers in the 29-man squad: 17-year-old Sparta Prague midfielder Hugo Sochůrek, Viktoria Plzeň midfielder Alexandr Sojka, and Mladá Boleslav forward Christophe Kabongo.
Important: Thecoach will trim the roster to 26 players after the warmup match against Kosovo on May 31 in Prague. The team will then travel to the United States for an additional friendly against Guatemala in New Jersey on June 4.
World Cup Preparation
During the World Cup, the Czech Republic will be based in Mansfield, Texas, near Dallas.
They will open Group A matches against South Korea on June 12 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Other group opponents include South Africa (June 18 in Atlanta) and Mexico (June 25 in Mexico City).
This marks the Czech Republic's first World Cup appearance since 2006.
Preliminary Roster
Goalkeepers
- Lukáš Horníček (Braga)
- Matěj Kovář (PSV Eindhoven)
- Jindřich Staněk (Slavia Prague)
Defenders
- Vladimír Coufal (Hoffenheim)
- David Douděra (Slavia Prague)
- Tomáš Holeš (Slavia Prague)
- Robin Hranáč (Hoffenheim)
- Štěpán Chaloupek (Slavia Prague)
- David Jurásek (Slavia Prague)
- Ladislav Krejčí (Wolverhampton)
- Jaroslav Zelený (Sparta Prague)
- David Zima (Slavia Prague)
Midfielders
- Pavel Bucha (Cincinnati)
- Lukáš Červ (Viktoria Plzeň)
- Vladimír Darida (Hradec Králové)
- Tomáš Ladra (Viktoria Plzeň)
- Lukáš Provod (Slavia Prague)
- Michal Sadílek (Slavia Prague)
- Hugo Sochůrek (Sparta Prague)
- Alexandr Sojka (Viktoria Plzeň)
- Tomáš Souček (West Ham)
- Pavel Šulc (Lyon)
- Denis Višinský (Viktoria Plzeň)
Forwards
- Tomáš Chorý (Slavia Prague)
- Adam Hložek (Hoffenheim)
- Mojmír Chytil (Slavia Prague)
- Christophe Kabongo (Mladá Boleslav)
- Jan Kuchta (Sparta Prague)
- Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen)