In the quiet village of Bukovka, around 90 kilometres east of Prague, one house stands out from all the others. Painted in Argentina’s iconic sky blue and white, complete with a giant Sun of May on its façade, it is impossible to miss. Outside, a life-sized statue of Diego Maradona greets visitors, while a massive mural of Lionel Messi and Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad covers the back of the building. The extraordinary home belongs to Miloslav “Čurby” Urbanec, 51, arguably Czechia’s most devoted supporter of Argentine football. Urbanec’s passion began almost five decades ago. As a four-year-old, he watched the 1978 FIFA World Cup with his father, who supported Brazil. But while his father admired Pelé and the Brazilian greats, Urbanec fell in love with Argentina. The team’s long-haired stars reminded him of Winnetou, his childhood hero, and Argentina’s triumph that summer sealed a lifelong obsession. His admiration has since grown far beyond simply watching matches. After returning from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he decided to transform his property into a tribute to Argentina’s football culture. The mural features not only Lionel Messi but also head coach Lionel Scaloni, assistant coaches Pablo Aimar and Walter Samuel,...
Linda Nosková produced another impressive performance at Wimbledon on Wednesday, defeating Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-5 to reach the first Grand Slam semifinal of her career. The 21-year-old’s victory means Czechia will have two women in the Wimbledon semifinals, with Karolína Muchová also securing her place in the final four. It marks the first time since the 2019 Australian Open that two Czech women have reached the semifinals of the same Grand Slam. At Wimbledon, the last Czech duo to achieve the feat was Petra Kvitová and Lucie Šafářová in 2014. Nosková arrived in London in excellent form after winning the Berlin Open and has now claimed 10 victories in her last 11 matches. Her previous best Grand Slam result came at the 2024 Australian Open, where she reached the quarterfinals. With this latest win, she also became the eighth Czech woman to reach the Wimbledon semifinals since 2000. Against the experienced Mertens, Nosková built her success around a powerful serve and aggressive returning. She struck 30 winners compared with Mertens’ 18 and fired seven aces during the one-hour, 49-minute contest. View this post on Instagram A post shared by WTA (@wta) Nosková will now meet Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine,...
The Czech Republic have been eliminated from the FIFA World Cup after losing 3–0 to hosts Mexico in their final Group A match in Mexico City. The Czechs finished bottom of the group with one point from three matches, having previously lost to South Korea and drawn with South Africa. Miroslav Koubek’s side started brightly and looked the more dangerous team for much of the opening half hour, with Denis Višinský and Michal Sadílek both going close. However, Mexico grew into the game before the break and took full control after halftime. Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 60th minute following a rapid counterattack, before Julián Quiñones doubled the lead six minutes later after a defensive mistake. Álvaro Fidalgo added a third in stoppage time to seal Mexico’s third consecutive group-stage victory. The result sends Mexico into the knockout rounds with a perfect record, while Czechia’s tournament ends at the group stage after a disappointing campaign that produced only a single point and no wins. A two-decade wait that ended too soon The Czech Republic hadn’t appeared at a World Cup since 2006, their first as an independent nation following the 1993 split of Czechoslovakia. That 2006 campaign in...
Czechia suffered a 2-1 defeat to South Korea in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico on Thursday, despite taking the lead midway through the second half. Ladislav Krejčí appeared to have put the Czechs on course for a positive start when he headed home in the 59th minute at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan. Vladimir Coufal’s long throw found the unmarked defender inside the six-yard box, and Krejčí made no mistake with Czechia’s first shot on target of the match. The advantage lasted only eight minutes. South Korea equalised through Hwang In-beom, who was played through by Lee Kang-in before calmly lifting the ball over goalkeeper Matěj Kovář after cutting inside the Czech defence. Czechia thought they had regained the lead in the 77th minute when Tomáš Souček headed into the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. The missed opportunity proved costly. Just three minutes later, Hwang turned provider, delivering a cross from the right that substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu converted from close range to give Korea a 2-1 lead. The Czech side pushed for a late equaliser, creating several dangerous moments in the closing stages. Adam Hložek came close...
Football fans in Prague will have several options to watch the Czech Republic’s World Cup matches, even when kick-off times fall in the early hours of the morning. The Czech team begins its tournament campaign against South Korea on Friday at 4 a.m. Central European Time. To accommodate supporters, a number of pubs, sports bars and restaurants across the capital plan to open outside their regular business hours, offering live screenings along with breakfast service. The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway on June 11 with hosts Mexico facing South Africa. The Czech Republic will then meet South Africa on June 18 at 6 p.m., before taking on Mexico on June 25 in another early-morning fixture scheduled for 3 a.m. Several Prague venues say they expect strong demand throughout the tournament, particularly for matches involving the Czech national team. Restaurant and Sportbar U Zábranských (Křižíkova 89, Karlín) plans to show every World Cup match on large screens and televisions. The venue will open one hour before each Czech national team match, regardless of the time. The management of Letenský Tulipán (M. Horákové 384/83, Holešovice) said interest extends beyond Czech matches and includes games featuring other nations competing in the tournament....
The Czech Republic is set for one of its most demanding fixtures at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where it will face Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, recently renamed Estadio Banorte. The match is scheduled for June 25 at 03:00 local time and will take place in a stadium widely regarded as one of football’s most historic venues. The Azteca is the only stadium to have hosted two World Cup finals and will once again be part of the tournament schedule as the competition marks its 60th anniversary. Located on the outskirts of Mexico City, the stadium has been central to some of football’s most defining moments. It hosted the 1970 World Cup semi-final between Italy and West Germany, often referred to as the “match of the century.” Sixteen years later, it became the stage for Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and his second strike against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, later known as the “Goal of the Century.” Earlier still, Pelé lifted the World Cup trophy there with Brazil in 1970. These events are still commemorated inside the stadium with dedicated plaques. Beyond its sporting legacy, the Estadio Azteca is also an engineering...
For the first time in two decades, the Czech national football team is back on the grandest stage of them all. After a grueling, nerve-shredding qualification campaign, the Národní tým is packing its bags for North America. For Czech football fans, this is a seismic moment; the country has not featured at a World Cup since 2006, back when legends like Pavel Nedvěd and Tomáš Rosický pulled on the jersey. Now that the initial euphoria of qualification has settled, the harsh light of tournament reality sets in. Placed in a fascinating Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Korea, and South Africa, Miroslav Koubek’s men face a unique set of challenges. How far can this resilient side actually go, what is their realistic ceiling, and what should fans expect when the tournament kicks off? The Group A Landscape: Expert Verdict and Predictions On paper, the Czech Republic could have faced a far more intimidating draw. Group A lacks a traditional European powerhouse or a South American giant like Brazil or Argentina. However, it represents a highly competitive, balanced, and unpredictable environment where mathematical simulations give the Czechs a 64.2% chance of progressing to the newly introduced Round of 32. When diving...
Making friends as an adult isn’t always easy. For many people in Prague, especially those who have recently moved to the city, work often becomes the main social outlet. Finding new connections outside the office can take time. Sport has long been one of the easiest ways to meet people, but joining a club or committing to a competitive team isn’t for everyone. That’s where Prague-based VIVA Sports comes in. Founded in 2024, VIVA Sports organizes recreational leagues, tournaments, and open play sessions across the city. The goal is simple: give people a chance to stay active while meeting others who share the same interests. The organization offers beach volleyball, football, pickleball, and other activities throughout the year. Participants can either sign up for a single session or join one of the eight-week leagues. For those who are unsure whether a league is right for them, open play sessions provide a low-pressure alternative. Players register for a single event, show up, and join a game. No team is required, and there is no long-term commitment. View this post on Instagram A post shared by VIVA Sports (@vivasports.cz) The leagues are aimed at people who want something more regular....
Everything you need to know about Czechia ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Qualifying didn’t begin very well, but once Czechia turned to Miroslav Koubek in December 2025, things started to turn around. After a comeback victory over Denmark, they now find themselves in a close Group A. As with all teams in this group, the Round of 32 is realistic. Who is Czechia’s manager at the World Cup 2026? Miroslav Koubek will be Czechia’s manager at the 2026 World Cup. As soon as Czechia play, he’ll be the new record holder as the oldest manager in the tournament’s history. How did Czechia qualify for the World Cup 2026? Czechia ranked second in Group L of UEFA World Cup Qualification and then defeated the Republic of Ireland and Denmark to secure a trip to North America. Who are Czechia’s key players? Now the captain, with Tomáš Souček having been relieved of his duties, centre back Ladislav Krejčí has an impressive five goals and two assists in 25 games for Czechia. What is Czechia’s World Cup history? The 2026 World Cup is Czechia’s first qualification since 2006. Prior to that, seven appearances have yielded runs to the Quarter-Finals (1990) and...
This August, Prague enters the world of competitive horse polo. The Royal Golf & Polo Cup — a tournament blending polo and golf — will take place on August 8 at the Prague City Golf complex in Zbraslav, marking the event’s first edition in the Czech capital. The tournament has been running since 2018, when it launched in Mariánské Lázně with no prior infrastructure or fanbase behind it. Its move to Prague signals a deliberate shift in ambition. “We had a clear goal from day one — to build a family event that would grow year after year,” said Simona Joklová, a competitive polo player and co-founder of the tournament. “Moving from Mariánské Lázně to Prague is the natural next step toward making this a truly European fixture.” International field, defending champion included Four teams will compete this year, with players confirmed from Argentina, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Royal Golf & Polo Cup (@royalgolfandpolocup) Among them is Brad Rainford-Blackett, a British professional polo player and coach with extensive international tournament experience. He has competed in the Royal Golf & Polo Cup twice and arrives in Prague as...
A former women’s football coach in the Czech Republic has been handed a lifetime ban from all football-related activities across Europe after UEFA ruled on a case involving the secret filming of players in locker rooms and showers. UEFA announced that its Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body had permanently banned former 1. FC Slovácko women’s team coach Petr Vlachovský for serious violations of its disciplinary code. The ruling significantly expands an earlier punishment issued by a Czech court, which had prohibited Vlachovský from coaching for five years only within the Czech Republic. According to UEFA, the disciplinary panel found that Vlachovský breached multiple provisions of the organization’s regulations concerning conduct and integrity in football. The 42-year-old coach was arrested in September 2023 after investigators uncovered that he had secretly recorded female players over several years while they were in private areas including showers and changing rooms. Police reportedly discovered the material during a separate investigation linked to accounts on an erotic dating platform where illegal content involving minors was also being monitored. Earlier this year, a Czech court sentenced Vlachovský to a three-year suspended prison term without a public trial. The court also imposed a five-year coaching ban and ordered...
Slavia Prague faces stiff punishment after its fans invaded the pitch during stoppage time in a derby match against Sparta in the Czech league on Saturday night. The disciplinary committee of the League Football Association that oversees professional soccer in the country said after an extraordinary meeting on Sunday that “such behavior will not be tolerated in professional football.” Slavia’s punishment could be announced on Tuesday, it said. It could include forfeiting the match, banning of fans from the stadium and a fine. The committee also opened proceedings against Sparta after their fans used pyrotechnics and damaged the stadium. Hundreds of Slavia fans, many brandishing flares, stormed the pitch in the 97th minute and attacked several Sparta players, including Slovak goalkeeper Jakub Surovcík, defender Jakub Martinec and forward Matyás Vojta. At the time, Slavia was leading 3-2 and was on course to defend the Czech title with just minutes remaining and three games to go. However, the match was abandoned. Slavia chief executive Jaroslav Tvrdík called the fans’ behavior “unacceptable and deplorable.” “The values of Slavia are not hatred and violence,” Tvrdík said. “We accept responsibility and draw consequences.” He apologized and said the club will cooperate with the association...
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