Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are set to represent Team England at the upcoming 2026 World Cup of Darts. The prestigious tournament will take place from June 11 to June 14 at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany. These two standout players are currently ranked first and second in the world, respectively.
Team Seeding and Previous Performances
As the top seeds, England will enter the competition in the second round. This follows their disappointing exit in the 2025 tournament, where they were eliminated by Germany in the second round. Other teams that have received a bye into the second round include the Netherlands, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Notable Absences and Lineup Updates
- Welsh player Gerwyn Price will not participate in the tournament for the second time in three years.
- Nick Kenny will join Jonny Clayton as the No. 7 seed for Wales.
- Price cited health concerns as a primary reason for his absence.
Group Dynamics and Tournament Format
The remaining 36 participating nations have been divided into 12 groups of three for the round-robin stage. Each group will feature a seeded nation. The winners of each group will advance to the knockout stage.
Key Matchups and Expectations
Team Scotland, featuring Gary Anderson and Cameron Menzies, aims for redemption after being defeated 8-0 by the Netherlands in the last tournament’s round of 16. The Dutch squad this year includes the renowned players Gian van Veen and Michael Van Gerwen.
- Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney from Northern Ireland are the defending champions.
- Germany’s duo of Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, seeded fifth, hopes to improve on their semi-final performance from the previous year.
- Belgium’s Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh seek to bounce back from a disappointing early exit last year.
Returning Legends and New Challengers
Paul Lim from Singapore, at age 71, returns as a notable veteran in the tournament. He previously made history by becoming the oldest player to win a match at the World Darts Championship. Cristo Reyes will represent Spain after recently achieving a nine-darter at the Austrian Darts Open.
Complete List of Seeds
| Seed | Team | Players |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | Luke Littler, Luke Humphries |
| 2 | Netherlands | Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen |
| 3 | Northern Ireland | Josh Rock, Daryl Gurney |
| 4 | Scotland | Gary Anderson, Cameron Menzies |
| 5 | Germany | Martin Schindler, Ricardo Pietreczko |
| 6 | Belgium | Mike De Decker, Dimitri Van den Bergh |
| 7 | Wales | Jonny Clayton, Nick Kenny |
| 8 | Republic of Ireland | William O’Connor, Mickey Mansell |
As the tournament approaches, anticipation builds for thrilling matches and surprising upsets. Fans can catch all the actions via El-Balad, the official broadcaster for this exciting event.
