Two-time champions, Wales will commence their pursuit of a third BetVictor World Cup of Darts crown when the prestigious international spectacle gets underway in Frankfurt next week, with tournament hosts Germany and former title holders Australia also featuring prominently on the opening evening of competition.
Staged at the Eissporthalle between June 11-14, the annual global festival of darts will once again showcase the sport’s distinctive pairs format, bringing together representatives from forty nations in a quest for one of the most coveted accolades in the professional game.
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The four highest-ranked nations, determined by the aggregate PDC Order of Merit positions of their respective pairings, have been granted automatic passage to the second round.
Consequently, England, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Scotland will all bypass the preliminary phase and enter the competition at the last sixteen stage.
The remaining thirty-six nations have been apportioned into twelve round-robin groups consisting of three teams, with each section producing a solitary qualifier for the knockout rounds.
Two-time champions Wales will be spearheaded by Jonny Clayton, who is joined by World Cup debutant Nick Kenny. Drawn in Group C, the Welsh pairing will contend with Lithuania and Thailand for progression.
Germany’s aspirations will rest with Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, whose collaboration continues following their run to the semi-finals twelve months ago.
The host nation has been allocated alongside the Philippines and New Zealand, ensuring a fervent atmosphere inside the Frankfurt arena.
Australia, triumphant in 2022, will field Damon Heta in conjunction with newcomer Adam Leek. Their campaign commences against North American adversaries the United States and Canada, with qualification for the latter stages hanging in the balance.
Group B features Belgium’s accomplished tandem of Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh. They will encounter Hong Kong, quarter-finalists in the previous edition, as well as Slovenia, who are making their first appearance at the tournament since 2010.
Elsewhere, former runners-up the Republic of Ireland have been placed in Group D alongside Singapore and debutants Uganda. William O’Connor and Mickey Mansell combine for the first time, while Singapore will once again be inspired by veteran luminary Paul Lim, who continues to defy conventional sporting chronology at the age of seventy-two.Poland’s ambitions will be entrusted to Krzysztof Ratajski and Sebastian Bialecki.
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The Eastern European duo have been assigned to Group E, where Portugal, featuring the returning Jose de Sousa, and Switzerland complete the line-up.Group F will witness Sweden seeking to add another notable chapter to their World Cup history against South Africa and first-time participants Mongolia.
Meanwhile, Czechia, India and Denmark comprise Group H in what promises to be an evenly poised section.Austria, twice runners-up in the competition and marshalled by the ever-present Mensur Suljovic, will begin their latest championship endeavour against China and 2023 quarter-finalists France.
Group J brings together Latvia, Italy and newcomers Trinidad and Tobago, whereas Croatia face a particularly onerous assignment in Group K against former semi-finalists Japan and Spain.Finland, who enjoyed a memorable run to the last four in 2013, headline Group L, where Norway and Hungary will also contest qualification for the last sixteen.
The nations defeated during Thursday’s opening encounters will return to action in Friday afternoon’s session against the remaining side in their respective groups, before the conclusive and potentially decisive fixtures are contested later that evening.
Upon the culmination of the group phase, the draw for the second round will be conducted. At that juncture, England, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Scotland will finally embark upon their own championship campaigns.
Five-time champions England will once more entrust their fortunes to the formidable alliance of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, with the world’s two highest-ranked players seeking to restore the trophy to English hands.
A rejuvenated Dutch partnership will see Gian van Veen join forces with Michael van Gerwen, while reigning champions Northern Ireland will endeavour to preserve their supremacy through Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney.
Scotland’s challenge will feature a fresh dimension, with Cameron Menzies making his inaugural World Cup appearance alongside Gary Anderson. The Scots, victorious in both 2019 and 2021, remain among the sport’s most distinguished international exponents.
The quartet of seeded nations will occupy predetermined positions within the last sixteen bracket, while the twelve group winners will be allocated by means of an entirely randomised draw.
Saturday’s schedule will encompass the entirety of the second round across two sessions, before Frankfurt stages an expansive and climactic Finals Day on Sunday June 14, incorporating the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the championship match.
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Global coverage of the 2026 BetVictor World Cup of Darts will be available to audiences throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland via Sky Sports, with international transmission facilitated by an extensive consortium of broadcasting partners, including DAZN, Viaplay and VTM.
Subscribers to PDCTV in territories beyond those arrangements will likewise be afforded comprehensive access to the tournament.
2026 BetVictor World Cup of Darts
Seeded to Round Two: (1) England (2) Netherlands (3) Northern Ireland (4) Scotland
Group Stage Draw
Group A: (5) Germany, Philippines, New Zealand
Group B: (6) Belgium, Hong Kong, Slovenia
Group C: (7) Wales, Lithuania, Thailand
Group D: (8) Ireland, Singapore, Uganda
Group E: (9) Poland, Portugal, Switzerland
Group F: (10) Sweden, South Africa, Mongolia
Group G: (11) Australia, USA, Canada
Group H: (12) Czechia, India, Denmark
Group I: (13) Austria, China, France
Group J: (14) Latvia, Italy, Trinidad & Tobago
Group K: (15) Croatia, Japan, Spain
Group L: (16) Finland, Norway, Hungary
Group Stage Schedule
Thursday June 11 (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Seeded Nation v Team 2
Czechia v India (H)
Croatia v Japan (K)
Finland v Norway (L)
Ireland v Singapore (D)
Poland v Portugal (E)
Sweden v South Africa (F)
Latvia v Italy (J)
Belgium v Hong Kong (B)
Germany v Philippines (A)
Wales v Lithuania (C)
Austria v China (I)
Australia v USA (G)
Friday June 12 Afternoon Session (1200 local time, 1100 BST)
Thursday’s losing nation v Team 3 Same Group Order
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Thursday’s winning nation v Team 3 Same Group Order
Saturday June 13 Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Round Two x4
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Round Two x4 Sunday June 14
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Semi-Finals & Final
——-ENDS—–
Images: PDC
