Tomáš Souček has been named in Czechia’s squad for two vital 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to be played later this month.
The West Ham United midfielder and Czech national team captain will lead his country in their UEFA qualifying Group L ties at home to Croatia at 7.45pm BST on Thursday 9 October, and away at the Faroe Islands at 5pm BST on Sunday 12 October.
Czechia go into the October international window sat sat second in the group with 12 points from five ties played, behind upcoming opponents Croatia on goal difference, who occupy the sole automatic qualification spot following four wins from their four games so far, including a 5-1 triumph over Souček's side back in June.
With second only good enough to earn a route to the qualification play-offs, victory against 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia at the Fortuna Arena in Prague would serve a huge boost to Czechia's hopes of qualifying for the competition for only the second time since becoming an independent country in the 1990s, and first since 2006.
Ivan Hašek's side will then look to replicate the 2-1 home win they recorded against the Faroe Islands back in March, three days later, before they round off their qualifiers with a home tie against bottom side Gibraltar in November.
Souček, who has scored one goal in six appearances for the Hammers so far in 2025/26, will be hoping to add to his impressive tally of 15 strikes from 83 caps for his country against Croatia and the Faroe Islands, while taking a step further towards making a first appearance at a World Cup at next summer's finals in North America.
