Czech U16 football team reaches FIFA World Cup & Festival 2026 final

The Czech Republic under-16 national football team has secured a place in the final of the FIFA World Cup & Festival 2026. The team progressed after a victory against Paraguay, following a tournament run that included defeating Brazil in a penalty shootout and overcoming teams such as Italy, Sri Lanka, Togo, Cuba, Jamaica, and Angola.

Key players in the squad include Ondřej Schwab and national team captain Jan Kyklhorn, both of whom developed through the Viktoria Plzeň youth academy. Schwab has recorded 13 goals during the tournament. The team is scheduled to compete for the title against Spain in the final match.

The tournament features under-15 players from over 200 nations and utilizes a specific format involving seven-a-side matches on smaller artificial turf pitches with hockey-style substitutions.