PDC World Cup 2026 - Preview
The 2026 BetVictor World Cup of Darts begins on Thursday, as Northern Ireland's Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney look to defend their World Cup crown in Frankfurt.
This year's World Cup of Darts will see 40 nations compete at the Eissporthalle from June 11-14 through group and knockout stages in the unique pairs event.
England, Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Scotland - the top four ranked nations based on the lowest cumulative PDC ranking of the two competing players - will enter the tournament in Saturday's second round. The other 36 nations have been split into 12 groups of three for the group stage, with each group containing a seeded team, and the group winner will advance to the last 16.
Rock and Gurney return to Frankfurt after their historic triumph 12 months ago, where the pair propelled Northern Ireland to their maiden World Cup of Darts title.
The victory contributed to Rock's Premier League call-up, after he also reached the World Matchplay semi-final and Gram Slam of Darts quarter-final last year, and he enters his third World Cup in good spirits.
"I'm looking forward to defending the title," declared the 25-year-old, who reunites with Gurney in Frankfurt for the second time. "Going up with a star on the shirt as defending champions is going to be a nice feeling. It'd be nice to retain it too! "It's the only sport Northern Ireland have ever won a World Cup in. There were tears at the end - I was crying for about an hour after it. "It was a perfect partnership between me and Daryl. I did the scoring and he did the finishing. Hopefully that happens again this year."
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries reunite for number one seeds England, searching for their first win as a pairing.
The world number one and two faced an early exit last year at the hands of Germany's Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, as Littler aims for his first World Cup trophy.
"Me and Luke, we're up for it," insisted the World Champion, who reclaimed the Premier League crown in May, averaging 111.67 in the final against Humphries. "Hopefully we can get an easier draw first time around this year. Drawing the Germans last year, we didn't want that. "I think Ricardo and Martin played a good game with each other. Me and Luke had a few good moments, but we didn't really bond on that stage. Hopefully this year, it's a lot different."
Littler's partner Humphries - who won the competition in 2024 alongside Michael Smith - enters the tournament in fine form, averaging north of 103 across his last 200 legs played.
"I've only played in two World Cups in my career and he's only played in one. It's a learning curve," considered the world number two. "I've won it once. I think once we come together next week, it'll be fine. "We're both in a rich vein of form as well, so we can match each other and perform at that level that everyone knows we can. We are really up for it."
Michael van Gerwen enters his 11th World Cup in a new-look Netherlands team alongside Dutch number one and world number three Gian van Veen, with the 37-year-old also in fine form. The seven-time Premier League champion prevailed in the Nordic Darts Masters last weekend - his second World Series title of 2026 - pipping Humphries in a last-leg decider.
"It's always nice when you go into the tournament with a win in your pocket," affirmed Van Gerwen, a three-time World Cup of Darts winner.
"It's a lovely tournament to play in and I haven't played with Gian.
"We're going to give it a fantastic go, and we are one of the favourites."
Netherlands are the second seed at this year's World Cup of Darts, with reigning champions Northern Ireland and Scotland the third and fourth seeds respectively, and they will enter the tournament alongside England at the last 16 stage.
Host nation Germany will kick off their campaign in the group stage against the Philippines and New Zealand, as Schindler and Pietreczko reunite after reaching the semi-finals last year.
Belgium's pairing of Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh will also make their second consecutive appearance together, pitted against Hong Kong and Slovenia - the latter of which are making their first appearance since 2010.
Despite finishing as runners-up last year, Wales will enter this year's competition in the group stage, as the nation ranks outside the top four seeds for the first time since 2018. Jonny Clayton will make his ninth consecutive World Cup showing alongside debutant Nick Kenny, as Wales go head-to-head with Lithuania and Thailand in Group C.
Republic of Ireland's William O'Connor and Mickey Mansell begin their bid for a first World Cup against Singapore and Gibraltar, who have replaced Uganda due to visa issues.
Poland, Portugal and Switzerland make up Group E, while Sweden are joined by South Africa and debutants Mongolia.
Australia - featuring Damon Heta and Adam Leek and without Simon Whitlock for the first time in the competition's history - will locks horns with USA and Canada in a tricky group, while Czechia, India and Denmark make up Group H.
Austria, China and France will do battle in Group I, as Latvia will take on Italy and Trinidad & Tobago - making their debut in the World Cup of Darts.
Represented by Joshua Balfour and James Walklin, the Trinidad and Tobago team are relishing their opportunity on the global darts stage.
"I've had so many messages from friends, family and co-workers," said Balfour, speaking to Weekly Dartscast. "It gives you goosebumps when you realise the impact this has on people and our nation. "I still haven't come to the full realisation of what we have achieved. "Hopefully the future is bright and we can encourage more people in Trinidad and Tobago to take the sport up."
Croatia, Japan, Spain, Finland, Norway and Hungary round out the teams in the group stage, which will take place on Thursday evening and in a bumper double-session on Friday.
The losing nations from Thursday's opening games will play the third team from each group in Friday's afternoon session, before the crucial final group games are played on Friday evening.
Following the conclusion of the group stage, the draw for the last 16 will take place on Friday evening, as seeded nations England, Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Scotland enter the fray in round two on Saturday.
The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will then take place across Sunday afternoon and evening, with the schedule of play for the remainder of the tournament to be confirmed in due course.
This year's World Cup of Darts will see 40 nations compete at the Eissporthalle from June 11-14 through group and knockout stages in the unique pairs event.
England, Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Scotland - the top four ranked nations based on the lowest cumulative PDC ranking of the two competing players - will enter the tournament in Saturday's second round. The other 36 nations have been split into 12 groups of three for the group stage, with each group containing a seeded team, and the group winner will advance to the last 16.
Rock and Gurney return to Frankfurt after their historic triumph 12 months ago, where the pair propelled Northern Ireland to their maiden World Cup of Darts title.
The victory contributed to Rock's Premier League call-up, after he also reached the World Matchplay semi-final and Gram Slam of Darts quarter-final last year, and he enters his third World Cup in good spirits.
"I'm looking forward to defending the title," declared the 25-year-old, who reunites with Gurney in Frankfurt for the second time. "Going up with a star on the shirt as defending champions is going to be a nice feeling. It'd be nice to retain it too! "It's the only sport Northern Ireland have ever won a World Cup in. There were tears at the end - I was crying for about an hour after it. "It was a perfect partnership between me and Daryl. I did the scoring and he did the finishing. Hopefully that happens again this year."
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries reunite for number one seeds England, searching for their first win as a pairing.
The world number one and two faced an early exit last year at the hands of Germany's Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, as Littler aims for his first World Cup trophy.
"Me and Luke, we're up for it," insisted the World Champion, who reclaimed the Premier League crown in May, averaging 111.67 in the final against Humphries. "Hopefully we can get an easier draw first time around this year. Drawing the Germans last year, we didn't want that. "I think Ricardo and Martin played a good game with each other. Me and Luke had a few good moments, but we didn't really bond on that stage. Hopefully this year, it's a lot different."
Littler's partner Humphries - who won the competition in 2024 alongside Michael Smith - enters the tournament in fine form, averaging north of 103 across his last 200 legs played.
"I've only played in two World Cups in my career and he's only played in one. It's a learning curve," considered the world number two. "I've won it once. I think once we come together next week, it'll be fine. "We're both in a rich vein of form as well, so we can match each other and perform at that level that everyone knows we can. We are really up for it."
Michael van Gerwen enters his 11th World Cup in a new-look Netherlands team alongside Dutch number one and world number three Gian van Veen, with the 37-year-old also in fine form. The seven-time Premier League champion prevailed in the Nordic Darts Masters last weekend - his second World Series title of 2026 - pipping Humphries in a last-leg decider.
"It's always nice when you go into the tournament with a win in your pocket," affirmed Van Gerwen, a three-time World Cup of Darts winner.
"It's a lovely tournament to play in and I haven't played with Gian.
"We're going to give it a fantastic go, and we are one of the favourites."
Netherlands are the second seed at this year's World Cup of Darts, with reigning champions Northern Ireland and Scotland the third and fourth seeds respectively, and they will enter the tournament alongside England at the last 16 stage.
Host nation Germany will kick off their campaign in the group stage against the Philippines and New Zealand, as Schindler and Pietreczko reunite after reaching the semi-finals last year.
Belgium's pairing of Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh will also make their second consecutive appearance together, pitted against Hong Kong and Slovenia - the latter of which are making their first appearance since 2010.
Despite finishing as runners-up last year, Wales will enter this year's competition in the group stage, as the nation ranks outside the top four seeds for the first time since 2018. Jonny Clayton will make his ninth consecutive World Cup showing alongside debutant Nick Kenny, as Wales go head-to-head with Lithuania and Thailand in Group C.
Republic of Ireland's William O'Connor and Mickey Mansell begin their bid for a first World Cup against Singapore and Gibraltar, who have replaced Uganda due to visa issues.
Poland, Portugal and Switzerland make up Group E, while Sweden are joined by South Africa and debutants Mongolia.
Australia - featuring Damon Heta and Adam Leek and without Simon Whitlock for the first time in the competition's history - will locks horns with USA and Canada in a tricky group, while Czechia, India and Denmark make up Group H.
Austria, China and France will do battle in Group I, as Latvia will take on Italy and Trinidad & Tobago - making their debut in the World Cup of Darts.
Represented by Joshua Balfour and James Walklin, the Trinidad and Tobago team are relishing their opportunity on the global darts stage.
"I've had so many messages from friends, family and co-workers," said Balfour, speaking to Weekly Dartscast. "It gives you goosebumps when you realise the impact this has on people and our nation. "I still haven't come to the full realisation of what we have achieved. "Hopefully the future is bright and we can encourage more people in Trinidad and Tobago to take the sport up."
Croatia, Japan, Spain, Finland, Norway and Hungary round out the teams in the group stage, which will take place on Thursday evening and in a bumper double-session on Friday.
The losing nations from Thursday's opening games will play the third team from each group in Friday's afternoon session, before the crucial final group games are played on Friday evening.
Following the conclusion of the group stage, the draw for the last 16 will take place on Friday evening, as seeded nations England, Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Scotland enter the fray in round two on Saturday.
The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will then take place across Sunday afternoon and evening, with the schedule of play for the remainder of the tournament to be confirmed in due course.