Miroslav Koubek resigns as Czechia coach after World Cup exit

Miroslav Koubek has resigned as head coach of the Czechia national football team following the nation's group-stage exit at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Czechs finished bottom of Group A, managing only one point from their matches against Korea Republic, South Africa, and Mexico.

Koubek's brief tenure

Koubek, aged 74, took over the role just before Czechia's World Cup play-off matches. Under his guidance, the team secured successive penalty-shootout victories over the Republic of Ireland and Denmark, earning the country a return to the global finals for the first time in 20 years.

Resignation accepted

David Trunda, President of the Football Association of the Czech Republic, confirmed the resignation. “The coach offered me his position at a personal meeting today and I decided to accept his offer after an open and fair debate,” Trunda said.

The decision marks the end of a short but significant chapter for Czech football, as Koubek's leadership brought the team back to the world stage after two decades.