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Slovak national football team coach Vladimír Weiss has included 26-year-old midfielder Ľudovít Reis in his latest 31-man squad for the remaining UEFA Nations League C-division fixtures. The call-up represents a strategic move to reinforce the midfield, as the team prepares to face the Faroe Islands on November 13, 2026 in Košice and Kazakhstan on November 16, 2026 in Astana. The roster was announced at a press conference held at the headquarters of LIDL Slovakia, the team’s general partner.
Midfield reinforcement following Lobotka injury
The decision to bring in the Werder Bremen midfielder comes as a direct response to the unavailability of key player Stanislav Lobotka. According to the Slovak Football Association (SFZ), Lobotka has been ruled out of the upcoming matches due to a muscle tear; notably, he had not missed a single minute of play in the current Nations League campaign until this injury. Tréner Weiss označil Reisa za kreatívneho stredopoliara, ktorý by mohol pomôcť pri absencii zraneného Stanislava Lobotku, pričom dodal, že hráčovi sa v súčasnosti vybavuje slovenský pas. Reis was a matter of one phone call,
Weiss stated, adding that the player expressed a willingness to represent the country following their conversation.
From Barcelona to the Bundesliga
Sportnet reported that during his time at FC Barcelona, where he played for the B-team, he had the opportunity to train alongside stars such as Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Ousmane Dembélé. Reis recalled sitting between Busquets and Frenkie de Jong in the locker room. He also sat on the bench during the team’s 2-8 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich in August 2020. Following his stint in Spain, he captained Hamburg and helped the club return to the Bundesliga in 2025, scoring 20 goals in 129 appearances for the side, before joining Werder Bremen in August 2026.
Weiss secures commitment
The recruitment of Reis followed contact from the national team management. HNonline reported that while Reis previously held hopes of representing the Netherlands—even having played for their U21 side—a direct phone conversation with coach Weiss proved decisive in his decision to commit to Slovakia. Previously, Reis had been non-committal, stating in March that while he was aware of the interest, he was focused on his club career.
Squad depth for final Nations League push
In addition to Reis, the squad features three other newcomers: Matej Trusa of DAC Dunajská Streda, Tobiáš Pališčák from Viktoria Plzeň, and Sebastián Nebyla, who currently plays for FK Jablonec, as confirmed by the SFZ. The expanded roster also includes the return of attacker Albert Rusnák, who has been playing in Major League Soccer. Weiss stated that he opted for a larger squad of 27 outfield players and four goalkeepers to evaluate younger talent ahead of the upcoming European Championship qualification campaign. Slovakia currently holds a six-point lead in their Nations League group and aims to secure promotion to the B-division during this final international window. Having defeated Kazakhstan 2-1 at home and drawn 1-1 with the Faroe Islands away, the team intends to finalize their promotion in the upcoming home fixture.
Technical support team accompanying the squad
The technical support team accompanying the squad includes doctor Jozef Almási, physiotherapists Martin Nozdrovický, Marko Kopas, and Marek Mališ, masseurs Mário Prelovský and Pavel Očoveji, custodians Marek Košáň and Marek Beseda, and media manager Monika Jurigová.
Questions regarding the new squad addition
Is Ľudovít Reis eligible to play immediately?
The player is currently in the process of finalizing his Slovak passport.
Why was Albert Rusnák recalled after a four-year absence?
Coach Weiss noted that the decision to bring back the Seattle Sounders player was based on the current composition of the team and the importance of the upcoming matches. He stated that Rusnák’s experience and creative ability are needed to help guide the team in their pursuit of promotion.
What is at stake for Slovakia in these final two matches?
Slovakia is looking to secure the top spot in their C-division group to earn promotion to the B-division. If the team manages to secure the necessary points in the first match against the Faroe Islands, the coaching staff may consider rotating the squad for the final game against Kazakhstan.
Slovakia’s next match is scheduled for November 13, 2026 against the Faroe Islands in Košice, followed by the away fixture in Astana on November 16, 2026. This squad selection follows a campaign where Slovakia also secured victories over Moldova, winning 2-0 at home and 4-0 away.
