The 2025 BetVictor World Cup of Darts is set to light up Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle from June 12th to 15th, as forty nations collide in a spectacular celebration of global tungsten-slinging prowess.
The event sticks with its newly-popular all-doubles format, putting teamwork above individual brilliance. Some pairings thrive in harmony – others, less so. The top four seeded nations receive byes straight into the last 16, while the remaining 36 teams battle it out in 12 groups of three.
The draw is in, and all 36 non-seeded nations now know their group-stage fate, with the PDC confirming the twelve three-team pools.
GROUP A: NETHERLANDS (5), Italy and Hungary
With Michael van Gerwen swapping Frankfurt for the golden sands of Ibiza, the Dutch World Cup charge falls to former UK Open champion Danny Noppert and rising star Gian van Veen. One more title, and the Netherlands would draw level with England’s record haul of five World Cup crowns.
It’s a rare appearance in the high echelon seeded ranks for the Dutch – a result of MVG’s absence and Van Veen not yet reaching his inevitable place near the top of the rankings. Group opponents include Italy, led by the capable Michele Turetta, and a Hungarian pair lacking major stage experience. But if Noppert and Van Veen hit their stride – as many expect – the rest of Europe may struggle to stop the men in orange.
GROUP B: BELGIUM (6), Latvia and Philippines
On paper, the new Belgian pairing of Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh looks like a serious threat – and it might just be the partnership Dimitri’s always dreamed of. Fresh(ish) from his maiden PDC major title at the World Grand Prix, De Decker finally makes his World Cup debut, linking up with the less dancing Dimi, who knows how to rise to the occasion.
After a few well-documented clashes with former partner Kim Huybrechts, The DreamMaker will be hoping that teaming up with a close friend brings the kind of harmony – and results – Belgium has been missing. They should have enough to top their group, but it’s not without danger. Latvia’s Madars Razma is no pushover, and the Filipino duo of Lourence Ilagan and Christian Nebrida have the talent (and unpredictability) to spring a surprise. Still, if Belgium clicks, they could go deep.
GROUP C: GERMANY (7), Portugal and Singapore
The German duo of Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko are hitting form at just the right time, much to the delight of their home crowd. Both have been making serious waves on the European Tour, and on current form, this group really is Germany’s to lose – with all due respect to the other nations involved.
Even if José de Sousa was firing on all cylinders, Portugal has long struggled to field a second player capable of helping them mount a serious run. As for Singapore, they remain a fan favourite thanks to the evergreen Paul Lim – a true legend of the game – but their chances of progressing lie more in fairytale territory than form books. If Schindler and Pietreczko stay sharp, they’ll be hard to stop.
GROUP D: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (8), Gibraltar and China
Former finalists Ireland will quietly fancy their chances of a solid run here, with Willie O’Connor and Keane Barry offering a balanced mix of grit and flair. But don’t overlook China – they could be the dark horses of the tournament.
Zong Xiao Chen, China’s inaugural Premier League champion, is pure class on the oche, and his partner Lihao Wen is no slouch either. Together, they could cause serious problems. Gibraltar’s Craig Galliano and Justin Hewitt are back for another crack, but it’s likely they’ll be out gunned in this trio. Call it a hunch, but the smart money might just be on China edging through.
GROUP E: POLAND (9), South Africa and Norway
If the Polish pair actually turn up – and by that, we mean play to their potential, not just show up in Frankfurt – they should have this group in the bag. Both Krzysztof Ratajski and Radek Szaganski are proven winners on the PDC Pro Tour and, on paper, have too much firepower for the rest of the group.
That said, South Africa won’t go quietly. Devon Petersen, the man who put African darts on the map, still has a Euro Tour title to his name from this decade, and he’s joined by Cameron Carolissen – no stranger to the bright lights of Ally Pally. They’ve got experience, fight, and just enough unpredictability to make things interesting. Norway’s hopes rest with Cor Dekker, but unless he produces something special, it’s hard to see past the Poles – or a fired-up South African upset.
GROUP F: CANADA (10), Malaysia and Denmark
This group looks wide open, and you get the sense all three teams will be quietly content with the draw. Canada’s Matt Campbell arrives in Frankfurt riding a wave of confidence after a strong Euro Tour showing in Leverkusen, while partner Jim Long remains one of the steadiest hands in the game – cool, consistent, and rarely flustered.
Malaysia may be unfamiliar territory for some fans, but don’t write them off. Tengku Shah and Jenn Ming Tan might not be household names just yet, but the standard in South East Asia is rising rapidly – and they could catch a few off guard. As for Denmark, they’re World Cup regulars, and Benjamin Drue Reus will lead their charge. Solid and spirited, the Danes won’t roll over.. In short, it’s anyone’s to win – and possibly everyone’s to lose.
GROUP G: SWEDEN (11), Lithuania and France
This one could go down to the wire, but my pick – just about – is Sweden. The returning duo of Jeffrey De Graaf and Oskar Lukasiak are a year older, a year wiser, and carry the experience of a quarter-final run in last year’s tournament. That could prove crucial in a group that looks tightly contested.
I caught up with the Swedish pair ahead of their trip to Frankfurt, and they’re quietly optimistic.
Jeff: “We haven’t really set a target, but of course it would be fantastic to go one better than last year. Oskar’s a great partner – we play in the same local team and have played doubles together quite a bit. My form’s dipped a little since last year, especially with becoming a dad recently, but I’ve started putting the hours back in and I feel things are improving. I like the doubles format – it’s different, and it really forces you to work as a team.”
Oskar: “I’m really looking forward to it. Playing against the best in the world on the big stage is something I don’t have much experience with, so it’s a big moment for me. This is starting to feel like a bit of a tradition now – I’m beginning to feel like a World Cup veteran! We’re well-prepared, we play together regularly at home, and we’ve had some doubles practice too. Now we’re just waiting for the draw so we can get mentally locked in. Doubles is different to singles, and I think we’re strong in that format.”
France will be a serious threat, though, with Thibault Tricole and Jacques Labre forming a dangerous duo. Meanwhile, Lithuania are led once again by the ever-reliable Darius Labanauskas, who’ll bring plenty of steel and stage know-how. In truth, it could all come down to Sweden vs France – and the winner of that tie might just be the one booking a place in the knockout stages.
GROUP H: AUSTRIA (12), Spain and Australia
It still feels a bit strange not seeing Australia among the main seeded nations. After all, they lifted the trophy just a few years ago, and return with a tried-and-tested duo: the brilliant Damon Heta and the evergreen Simon Whitlock – a man who’s never missed a World Cup… but certainly plenty of shaves.
This will be the sixth consecutive outing for the pair, who famously clinched the title in 2022. While Whitlock may no longer hold a tour card, he’s never lost his passion for representing his country. Expect the beard to be dyed gold and green once again, as the Aussies aim to remind everyone why they already own the winner’s T-shirts.
Austria are no pushovers, though. Mensur Suljovic is as solid as they come and teams up this year with Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, continuing the Rodriguez family’s proud World Cup tradition. With two of the tournament’s three ever-presents (Suljovic and Whitlock) in this group, there’s no shortage of experience. Spain’s pairing of Daniel Zapata and Ricardo Fernández will give it their all, but in truth, it’s hard to see them getting out of this group. My nod goes to the boys from Down Under.
I caught up with Aussie skipper Damon Heta yesterday, and here’s what he had to say:
“I always look forward to wearing the green and gold – there’s nothing like representing your country. I’ll be giving it my all. The World Cup has a different feel; you’re not just playing for yourself, and that brings out something extra.”
GROUP I: USA (13), Hong Kong and Bahrain
This group has all the ingredients for a fascinating contest. For Team USA, much will hinge on whether Jules van Dongen can rediscover the form we all know he’s capable of. Danny Lauby will certainly be hoping he can. Hong Kong’s duo of Man Lok Leung and Lok Yin Lee may not be household names, but they’ve earned their place and arrive with plenty of ability. Don’t underestimate them – they’re more than capable of causing an upset or two.
The Bahrain pairing of Sadiq Dasmal and Hassan Bucherri are also relative unknowns to wider audiences, but they represent another step in darts’ global growth – and they’re here on merit.
Still, if I’m picking a winner, I’m leaning towards Hong Kong. Quietly dangerous and with no huge expectancy on their shoulders, they could be the ones to sneak through.
GROUP J: CZECH REPUBLIC (14), Chinese Taipei and India
Also known as Czechia, Evil Charlie is back on the World Cup stage for them- but this time, he’s Adam Gawlas-less. Instead, Karel Sedláček teams up with the ever-reliable Petr Křivka in what looks like a well-balanced Czech pairing.
Keep an eye on the Chinese Taipei team, though. It feels like only a matter of time before an Asian nation makes a serious run to the final, and whether it’s these chaps or their neighbours with or without Taipei in the name, this region is on the rise in a big way.That said, experience counts, and I’m backing the Czechs to get the job done here.
GROUP K: CROATIA (15), Japan and Switzerland
If this were a contest involving heavy lifting, you’d back Croatia. If it involved engineering, Japan gets the nod. Skis, then Switzerland might have the edge. But this is darts – and in this group, you could genuinely make a case for all three. This might just be the toughest of the twelve groups to call.
Croatia’s hopes rest on the broad shoulders of Boris Krčmar. When he’s firing, he’s world class – simple as that. That alone gives the Croats a big tick. Switzerland are led by the ever-solid Stefan Bellmont, a player I’ve always rated, and he’ll fancy his chances of dragging the Swiss into the knockout stages.
As for Japan, I’ll admit I’m slightly less familiar with Ryusei Azemoto and Tomoya Goto – but darts across Asia is clearly on the rise, and they could spring a surprise. Still, based on what I’ve seen this year – and largely thanks to big Boris – I’m leaning Croatia. But don’t be shocked if it goes right down to the wire.
GROUP L: FINLAND (16), New Zealand and Argentina
World Cup debutants Argentina can feel reasonably satisfied with their draw. There are no easy games at this level, but it certainly could’ve been tougher. That said, this group looks like a straight shoot-out between the Finnish and New Zealand.
Finland’s Teemu Harju and the ever-reliable Marko Kantele form a solid, composed partnership – experienced and well-versed in the World Cup format. But New Zealand won’t be short on belief. Leading their charge is the talented Haupai Puha, affectionately known as Hopes and that’s exactly what he carries for the Kiwi camp. His progress on the world stage has been hampered by persistent visa issues, but the talent is undeniable. Partnered with Mark Cleaver, the New Zealand duo look well equipped to edge this group – if they hit their stride.
Argentina, led by Jesús Sálate and Víctor Guillín, will give it their all, and their inclusion is a great moment for South American darts. But in terms of progression, the safe money is on the New Zealanders just pipping Finland.
