This week, the World Cup of Darts is taking place once again. Reigning champion England enters this prestigious international tournament as the overwhelming favorite. From June 12 to 15, they will try to defend their title at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt. Read all about it in this article.
Favorite: England
When looking at the top contenders, one team immediately stands out: England. They are the reigning champions and secured a record-breaking fifth title last year. This year, England is represented by a duo currently dominating the darts world: world number one Luke Humphries and 18-year-old sensation Luke Littler. Humphries brings ice-cold experience, while Littler, the reigning world champion and winner of the Premier League and Grand Slam, brings speed and flair. This combination makes them the top contenders to take home the title once again.
Main Challengers
Besides England, three other countries are directly seeded into the last 16 due to their high ranking in the PDC Order of Merit. These nations are considered the biggest threats to England’s crown:
- Wales: Featuring the experienced duo Gerwyn Price and Johnny Clayton. Known for their skill and style, they are always considered strong contenders. Clayton, who recently won the Dutch Darts title, and Price are eager to bring the trophy back to Wales. They previously won the cup in 2023 and 2020.
- Scotland: The veteran team of Peter Wright and Gary Anderson once again represents Scotland and is hoping to reclaim former glory. With four PDC World Championship titles between them, they aim for a third World Cup victory. In 2023, Wales narrowly beat them in the final. For Peter Wright, 2021 was the last year he lifted the cup, then alongside John Henderson. Their most recent win together dates back to 2019.
- Northern Ireland: This year, a younger and fresher team takes the stage with Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney. If this duo finds their rhythm, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the trophy head to the Emerald Isle. It would mark the first time the cup lands on the Irish island. Northern Ireland has never reached a final before, although their neighbors, the Republic of Ireland, did in 2019.
What About Belgium?
There’s good news for Belgian darts fans: the Belgian team looks particularly strong this year. Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh form a new partnership that, on paper, poses a serious threat. Fresh off his first PDC major title at the World Grand Prix, De Decker makes his World Cup debut alongside “The DreamMaker,” Van den Bergh, who knows how to shine on big stages. After some disagreements with his former teammate Kim Huybrechts, Van den Bergh hopes this new partnership will bring the results Belgium has been missing.
Belgium is seeded sixth and placed in Group B alongside Latvia and the Philippines. On paper, De Decker and Van den Bergh should have enough quality to top the group, but the danger is real. Latvia’s Madars Razma is no easy opponent, and the Philippine duo possesses the talent and unpredictability to spring a surprise.
Other Groups
Aside from the top four seeded countries and Belgium, the remaining 36 teams compete in twelve groups of three for a place in the knockout phase. This group stage is full of potentially exciting matchups and teams that could cause upsets.
Among the participants is the Netherlands, represented this year by Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen instead of Michael van Gerwen, and host nation Germany, with the in-form duo Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko. Former winners like Australia—represented by Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock—are also present. Teams from Asia, such as China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, highlight the global growth of darts and could prove to be dangerous underdogs. The group stage promises a wide variety of clashes, ranging from experienced pairs to new combinations, with every team battling to reach the last 16.
The 2025 World Cup of Darts once again promises to be an exciting tournament, full of unexpected twists and brilliant doubles performances. With England as the clear favorite, a range of strong challengers, and plenty of intriguing matchups in the group stage—including the potentially formidable Belgian team—there’s a lot to look forward to in Frankfurt.
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