2026 World Cup of Darts Begins in Frankfurt

The 2026 BetVictor World Cup of Darts begins Thursday in Frankfurt, Germany, at the Eissporthalle, where 40 national pairs will compete over four days for a record prize fund exceeding 500,000 euros. England leads the field as the top seed with world champion Luke Littler and world number two Luke Humphries, aiming to rebound from a second-round upset by Germany last year.

The tournament features a pairs-only format throughout, with the top four seeds, England, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, advancing directly to the round of 16. The remaining 36 teams face a group stage split into 12 round-robin groups of three, played in best-of-seven legs, with only winners progressing. From the second round onward, matches extend to best-of-15 legs, culminating in a best-of-19 final on Sunday.

Northern Ireland's defending champions Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney return after defeating Wales 10-9 in last year's final, their first title in the event's history. The Netherlands pair three-time World Cup winner Michael van Gerwen with 2026 World Championship runner-up Gian van Veen, seeking their first trophy since 2018. Scotland fields veteran Gary Anderson alongside debutant...