Czechia

Czech football carries a proud, well-earned reputation on the world stage. Across its modern history and the era of the former Czechoslovakia, the nation has produced silky, technical sides that punched above their weight, reaching deep into major tournaments and earning a name for tactical intelligence and ice-cold composure. That heritage of midfield craft and disciplined defending is the backdrop every new generation steps into.

The 2026 campaign feels like a fresh chapter. This is a team built on cohesion rather than individual fireworks, blending experienced heads with a hungry younger core eager to make their own mark on the biggest stage. With three group games spread across two host countries, the squad faces a genuine test of focus, fitness and adaptability, and there is quiet belief that this group can do something memorable.

Group A is a fascinating clash of styles and continents. Czechia open against South Korea's energy and pressing in Guadalajara, then meet a resilient South Africa side in Atlanta, before a showpiece finale against host nation Mexico inside the cauldron of the Estadio Azteca. Three opponents, three very different challenges, and an atmosphere that should crackle from the first whistle to the last.

The stakes are sharpened by the expanded 48-team format. The top two from every group march straight into the Round of 32, and the eight best third-placed teams join them, meaning every point and every goal difference swing matters. For Czechia, a strong start could open the door to the knockout rounds, so each of these three matches is effectively a small final.