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 Germany was supposed to be a coronation. Nedved had come out of international retirement specifically to help the team qualify, putting his body and reputation on the line for one more run.

It ended in the group stage. A 0-2 defeat to Italy sealed the exit, and the country’s golden generation walked off the pitch knowing their moment had passed.

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