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Kovář
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Kovář

Czech goalkeeper who saved two penalties to send Czechia to their first World Cup since 2006.

Last refreshed: 10 April 2026

Key Question

Can Kovář's club form translate into a World Cup run for Czechia in 2026?

Timeline for Kovář

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Common Questions
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.