England: The Most Dangerous Pairing in the Tournament
When the World Cup qualifying race settled, England ended up with arguably the most formidable pairing the tournament has ever seen. Luke Littler — world number one, PDC World Champion, and the player who has topped the Premier League table for a third consecutive season — partners Luke Humphries, the defending world champion who won Premier League Night 15 in Birmingham just days ago.
Between them, the two Lukes hold the top two spots on the PDC Order of Merit and have combined for more than 80 PDC titles. The World Cup pairs format — where both players contribute — suits teams with two elite performers rather than one star and a passenger. England, seeded first, have exactly that. See how they compare: Littler vs Humphries head-to-head.
Northern Ireland: Defending Champions Return
Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney return as seed three to defend the title Northern Ireland claimed at the last edition. Rock arrives in exceptional form — he won the 2026 Austrian Darts Open in May, averaging 101.56 and landing a 170 checkout in the final against Kevin Doets. For Northern Ireland to retain the trophy, Rock will likely need to carry them through the deeper rounds again.
Gurney is a solid doubles partner and has experience at this level — but it's Rock's world-class scoring and recent form that makes Northern Ireland a genuine threat to England's top seeding. Track both players on the World Cup qualifying race.
Netherlands: Van Gerwen and Van Veen
The Dutch pairing of Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen is seeded second and represents a fascinating dynamic. Van Veen — ranked third in the world — has emerged as one of the game's elite this season, reaching the Premier League playoffs before bowing out. MvG, meanwhile, hit back hard with a 122 average at Players Championship 15 to remind everyone what he is capable of.
MvG won the World Cup of Darts three times with the Netherlands. A fourth title with Van Veen alongside him would represent the continuation of Dutch darts dominance and the passing of the torch between generations. Compare them: MvG vs Van Veen.
Scotland: Anderson and Menzies — Wright Dropped
Scotland are seeded fourth, with Gary Anderson joined by Cameron Menzies rather than Peter Wright. The PDC selects World Cup pairs based on Order of Merit standings, and Menzies has earned his place ahead of the two-time world champion.
Anderson remains one of Scotland's greatest ever players and a formidable partner in this format. Menzies, the younger man, will be making his mark on the international stage. Browse all Scottish PDC players.
Wales: Clayton Steps Up as Price Sits Out
Gerwyn Price is absent from the Welsh team for the second time in three years. The Iceman, who had been in strong form during the Premier League — averaging 112 in his semi-final at Night 15 in Birmingham — cited health concerns, though he later clarified on Instagram that it was not health-related. Whatever the reason, his absence is significant.
Jonny Clayton — the Ferret, who qualified for the Premier League playoffs in 2026 — takes the lead role, partnering Nick Kenny. Clayton is a proven performer in the pairs format and knows how to win big matches. View all Welsh PDC players.
Germany: Schindler and Pietreczko on Home Turf
The host nation fields Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko — the two highest-ranked German players on the PDC Order of Merit. Schindler, who was whitewashed 7-0 by MvG's 122 average at PC15, will be determined to turn the page. Playing on home soil at the Eissporthalle will be a significant boost. View all German PDC players.
Belgium: De Decker and Van den Bergh
Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh represent Belgium as seed six. Both have been consistent performers on the ProTour in 2026, and Belgium have the depth to cause upsets. View all Belgian PDC players.
Paul Lim Returns at 71 for Singapore
One of the standout stories of the draw: Paul Lim returns to represent Singapore at age 71, making him one of the oldest competitors in the tournament's history. Lim — famous for his 1990 World Championship nine-dart finish — continues to compete at the highest level internationally. His presence alone makes the World Cup of Darts special.
Format: How the World Cup Works
The 2026 World Cup of Darts features 36 nations divided into 12 groups of three for the round-robin opening phase. The top four seeds — England, Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Scotland — are exempt until Round Two, while the remaining nations compete to join them in the knockout stages.
Matches are played in pairs format: each nation fields two players who both compete in singles and doubles ties. Qualifying for the tournament is determined by the PDC World Cup Race — based on Order of Merit positions within each nation. The full qualifying standings can be tracked on our rankings page.
Who Will Win?
England are the favourites on paper. Littler and Humphries at their best are almost unplayable, and with both in form coming out of the Premier League — Humphries as the Night 15 winner and Littler as table-topper — the timing is ideal.
But the pairs format introduces variance that individual tournaments don't. Northern Ireland's experience as defending champions, the Netherlands' firepower, and Scotland's Anderson — a player who has lifted the World Cup before — all make for genuine competition. It will be one of the highlights of the PDC summer calendar.
Keep an eye on the World Cup qualifying race and the live Order of Merit for context on every team's ranking position heading into Frankfurt.