Czech coach Ivan Hašek fired after shock defeat to Faroe Islands in World Cup qualifying

By Canadian Press on October 15, 2025.

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Football Association fired coach Ivan Hašek on Wednesday following a humiliating 2-1 defeat to Faroe Islands in World Cup qualifying.

It was not immediately clear who would replace Hašek.

Czech FA president David Trunda said a coach would be named to lead the team until the end of the qualifying campaign. A foreign coach is then likely to take over on a permanent basis.

Former Czech great Pavel Nedvěd has been asked to compile a list of potential candidates.

Sunday’s upset loss against the Faroes, a territory with a population of 55,000, was the biggest for the Czechs in qualifying for a major tournament since a 1-0 away defeat to Luxembourg in the European Championship 20 years ago. Back then, they still qualified for the finals in England.

The Czechs can still qualify for the 2026 World Cup. They have to beat another minnow, Gibraltar, in their final match on Nov. 17 to secure second spot in Group L and advance to the playoffs.

Under Hašek, the Czechs were eliminated at the group stage of the 2024 European Championship but won their group in the Nations League and advanced to the top Ligue A the same year.

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The Associated Press