England ready for World Cup of Darts showdown
The 2026 World Cup of Darts lineup has been confirmed, and England will head to Frankfurt as the team to beat next month, reports BritPanorama.
World champion Luke Littler teams up with world number two Luke Humphries, making them the tournament’s top seeds for the competition running from June 11-14 at the Eissporthalle. This presents an opportunity for redemption after the pair suffered a second-round exit against Germany in last year’s edition.
As top seeds, England will skip the group stage entirely and proceed directly to round two, alongside the Netherlands, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The matchup offers a chance for Littler and Humphries to showcase their skills against seasoned competitors.
The biggest talking point, however, is the absence of Gerwyn Price for Wales. The Welshman revealed last week that he’s been dealing with health issues and is awaiting hospital results. “Health wise I’m not in a great place, but I’m battling on,” Price stated during the Premier League in Leeds, where he lost 6-2 to compatriot Jonny Clayton. He expects results within three weeks.
In Price’s absence, Nick Kenny, ranked 60th in the world, will partner an in-form Clayton, with Wales entering as the seventh seeds. This presents a significant opportunity for Kenny, who would not have anticipated this chance otherwise.
Following their triumph last year, Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney return to Frankfurt as defending champions, seeded among the top four to bypass the group stage. Gurney’s experience complements Rock’s rising star, positioning them as formidable contenders.
Scotland’s Gary Anderson is set to partner Cameron Menzies in this tournament, with Peter Wright missing out due to selection criteria based on the lowest combined PDC Order of Merit ranking. Menzies, ranked 29th, edges out Wright, marking only the second time since 2016 that Wright will miss the World Cup.
The Netherlands look potent with Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen forming their partnership, while Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko aim to impress in front of their home crowd after reaching the semi-finals last year.
This year also introduces fresh talent, as Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mongolia make their World Cup debuts. Additionally, fans will see Singapore’s 71-year-old Paul Lim back in action, who became the oldest player to win a match at the World Championship last December, with Spain’s Cristo Reyes also looking to build on his recent nine-darter accomplishment at the Austrian Darts Open.
As anticipation builds ahead of the World Cup, all eyes will be on whether the top seeds can deliver under pressure, and whether new faces can disrupt the established order. The stage is set for a captivating tournament that promises both drama and surprises.
