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.
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