«No era un debate que tuviera en mi cabeza. Estoy contento con la llamada de la República Checa y de poder representar al país», dijo Idris Hopi.
The 18-year-old FK Teplice winger has received his first senior national team call-up from Czech Republic manager Santi Denia ahead of matches against Spain and Croatia, El Mundo reported on Nov. 11, 2026.
Hopi holds dual nationality through his parents, who moved from Varaždin in northern Croatia to the Czech Republic before he was born. Czech football officials moved quickly to secure the youngster for the senior setup to prevent him from committing to Croatia as his professional career gathered momentum.
The teenager made his senior debut for Teplice in May 2026 shortly after turning 18 and signing his first professional contract, scoring twice in his first two appearances. Before stepping into the top flight, he scored 27 goals in 25 youth matches and represented Czech youth teams.
Manager Santi Denia dismissed conventional squad-building metrics when defending his decision to bring in the teenager. The former Spain under-21 coach took charge of the Czech national team in late July 2026.
«Ya dijimos que no seleccionaremos jugadores por su pasaporte o su fecha de nacimiento. Nos gusta su perfil y es bueno en el uno contra uno. Queremos jóvenes que se adapten a nuestro estilo de juego», said Santi Denia.
The Spanish coach previously worked extensively within Spain’s youth ranks, notably giving Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal his under-19 debut at age 15.
Czech Republic sporting director Pavel Nedved defended the technical rationale behind the selection. «Lo convocamos por sus cualidades, nada más», said Pavel Nedved.
The Czech national team currently sits at the bottom of its group in the UEFA Nations League, raising the stakes ahead of upcoming European Championship qualifiers. Denia admitted in a press conference that he feels he is operating in a difficult position.
Not everyone in Czech sports media shares the manager’s optimism regarding the teenage winger. Local outlet Seznam Zprávy questioned the timeline of the promotion, writing that it feels like science fiction for an 18-year-old with only five league starts this season to feature in the senior squad.
Hopi has logged one goal across 11 appearances for Teplice during the current campaign.
The Czech Republic faces Spain and Croatia in upcoming international fixtures, putting Hopi in line for a potential senior debut against his parents’ homeland. If he features in either match, he will become the second-youngest player to ever represent the Czech senior national team.
The squad gathers for training ahead of the international window, with fixtures scheduled through the week as the team looks to reverse its recent form in competitive play.
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