Prague, March 31, 2026 — Czechia are heading back to the World Cup for the first time in 20 years after a thrilling playoff final victory over Denmark.
The match ended 2-2 after extra time in Prague, before the hosts held their nerve to win 3-1 on penalties and book their ticket to the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.It was a rollercoaster evening at the Generali Arena. Pavel Sulc gave Czechia an early lead in just the 3rd minute,
but Denmark fought back when Joachim Andersen headed home in the 72nd minute to force extra time.Ladislav Krejčí restored the lead for the Czechs with a deflected strike in the 100th minute, only for Kasper Høgh to equalize again with a header in the 111th minute — sending the tie to a penalty shootout
In the shootout, Rasmus Højlund, Anders Dreyer, and Mathias Jensen all missed for Denmark, while Czechia kept their cool to seal the win.Czechia will now join Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea.
The atmosphere in Prague was electric as fans celebrated a long-awaited return to football’s biggest stage. For the Danish side, it was a painful end to their campaign despite a spirited fightback.