Kovář
Czech goalkeeper who saved two penalties to send Czechia to their first World Cup since 2006.
Last refreshed: 10 April 2026
Can Kovář's club form translate into a World Cup run for Czechia in 2026?
Timeline for Kovář
Kovář Saves Two Penalties to Send Czechia to World Cup
2026 FIFA World Cup- Who is Matej Kovář?
- Czech goalkeeper at Bayer Leverkusen (loan from Manchester City). He saved two Danish penalties on 31 March 2026 to send Czechia to the 2026 World Cup.Source: UEFA
- Did Czechia qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
- Yes, beating Denmark 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Kovář saved two penalties. It is Czechia's first World Cup since 2006.Source: UEFA
- How did Matej Kovář win the penalty shootout against Denmark for Czechia?
- Matej Kovář saved two Danish penalties in the shootout after Czechia drew 2-2 with Denmark in Prague on 31 March 2026, sending Czechia to the 2026 World Cup. Kovář is on loan at Bayer Leverkusen from Manchester City.Source: UEFA / Czech Football Association
Background
Matej Kovář is a goalkeeper for Bayer Leverkusen (on loan from Manchester City) and the Czechia national team. On 31 March 2026, he saved two Danish penalties in the shootout after Czechia drew 2-2 with Denmark in Prague, sending Czechia to the 2026 World Cup with a 3-1 penalty victory.
It is Czechia's first World Cup qualification since 2006 Germany. The Czech Republic (as it was then known) reached the quarter-finals in 2006 before losing to Portugal. Kovář's performances at club level with Leverkusen, who won the Bundesliga in 2023-24, have established him as one of the more technically assured goalkeepers in European football.