2025 World Cup Group Stage Recap: All 12 Groups Decided in Frankfurt

The 2025 World Cup of Darts Group Stage delivered three thrilling sessions of round-robin drama as 40 nations battled for 12 spots in the Last 16. Here’s how each group unfolded before Friday night’s knockout draw…

Paolo Nebrida & Lourence Ilagan celebrating after victory on the World Cup stage (Photo by: Jenny Segers)

Group A

Teams: (5) Netherlands 🇳🇱, Italy 🇮🇹, Hungary 🇭🇺

Results:

Netherlands 4–0 Italy

Italy 4–0 Hungary

Netherlands 4–0 Hungary

Standings:

1st: 🇳🇱 Netherlands – 2W-0L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇮🇹 Italy – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇭🇺 Hungary – 0W-2L

Summary:

The new-look Dutch pairing of Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen breezed through Group A without dropping a leg. They settled quickly as a team and showcased their quality throughout. Italy sealed second place with a convincing win over Hungary, who failed to win a leg across both matches and struggled on the big stage.

Group B

Teams: (6) Belgium 🇧🇪, Philippines 🇵🇭, Latvia 🇱🇻

Results:

Belgium 4–1 Latvia

Philippines 4–2 Latvia

Philippines 4–3 Belgium

Standings:

1st: 🇵🇭 Philippines – 2W-0L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇧🇪 Belgium – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇱🇻 Latvia – 0W-2L

Summary:

Latvia produced competitive performances but ultimately lost both games. The real drama came as Belgium let a 3-0 lead slip against the Philippines. Debutant Mike De Decker and captain Dimitri Van den Bergh missed match darts, allowing debutant Paolo Nebrida and Asian Tour star Lourence Ilagan to complete a stunning 4–3 comeback and top the group.

Group C

Teams: (7) Germany 🇩🇪, Portugal 🇵🇹, Singapore 🇸🇬

Results:

Germany 4–2 Portugal

Singapore 4–2 Portugal

Germany 4–0 Singapore

Standings:

1st: 🇩🇪 Germany – 2W-0L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇸🇬 Singapore – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇵🇹 Portugal – 0W-2L

Summary:

Germany’s new-look duo of Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko breezed through the group, dropping just two legs across both matches. Singapore’s veteran Paul Lim, now 71, was joined by debutant Phuay Wei Tan and impressed against Portugal before falling short against the Germans. Portugal once again struggled, with José de Sousa unable to inspire inexperienced teammates on the big stage.

Group D

Teams: (8) Ireland 🇮🇪, China 🇨🇳, Gibraltar 🇬🇮

Results:

Ireland 4–2 Gibraltar

Gibraltar 4–2 China

China 4–2 Ireland

Standings:

1st: 🇮🇪 Ireland – 1W-1L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇬🇮 Gibraltar – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇨🇳 China – 1W-1L

Summary:

All three teams finished with one win and one loss, and remarkably, each match ended 4–2. Tournament rules meant legs won against throw decided the outcome, with eighth seeds Ireland narrowly edging through. Gibraltar’s young duo of Craig Galliano and Justin Hewitt impressed again, defeating a Chinese pair from a nation of over a billion, while hailing from a population of just 38,000. Willie O’Connor and Keane Barry were far from convincing but escaped with top spot.

Group E

Teams: (9) Poland 🇵🇱, South Africa 🇿🇦, Norway 🇳🇴

Results:

Poland 4–3 South Africa

South Africa 4–1 Norway

Norway 4–2 Poland

Standings:

1st: 🇿🇦 South Africa – 1W-1L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇵🇱 Poland – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇳🇴 Norway – 1W-1L

Summary:

Another three-way tie saw each team win one match, but South Africa topped the group on leg difference (+2), while Poland and Norway both finished on –1. Cameron Carolissen stood out, producing a superb display to help his side advance and again underline his ability on the big stage. Poland’s exit will sting, ninth seeds Krzysztof Ratajski and Radek Szaganski, both previous winners on the PDC Pro Tour, were expected to progress from this group.

Group F

Teams: (10) Canada 🇨🇦, Denmark 🇩🇰, Malaysia 🇲🇾

Results:

Malaysia 4–1 Canada

Denmark 4–1 Canada

Malaysia 4–1 Denmark

Standings:

1st: 🇲🇾 Malaysia – 2W-0L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇩🇰 Denmark – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇨🇦 Canada – 0W-2L

Summary:

Malaysia produced one of the shocks of the group stage, winning both matches comfortably to secure their first-ever World Cup victories on their fourth appearance. Captain Tengku Shah was the standout performer, averaging over 90 and leading with confidence. Denmark were solid against Canada but failed to match Malaysia in a nervy group decider. Canada, fielding two Tour Card holders in Matt Campbell and Jim Long, underwhelmed both in performance and presence, lacking the chemistry and passion shown by other nations.

Group G

Teams: (11) Sweden 🇸🇪, Lithuania 🇱🇹, France 🇫🇷

Results:

Sweden 4–1 Lithuania

Lithuania 4–3 France

France 4–3 Sweden

Standings:

1st: 🇸🇪 Sweden – 1W-1L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇫🇷 France – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇱🇹 Lithuania – 1W-1L

Summary:

All three teams finished with one win each, leaving leg difference to decide the outcome. No.11 seeds Sweden advanced with a +2 leg difference, ahead of France (0) and Lithuania (-2). Having reached the quarter-finals in their last two appearances, the Swedes will hope to go further this year. Both France and Lithuania pushed them all the way in what was a competitive and evenly matched group.

Group H

Teams: (12) Austria 🇦🇹, Australia 🇦🇺, Spain 🇪🇸

Results:

Austria 4–1 Spain

Australia 4–0 Spain

Australia 4–1 Austria

Standings:

1st: 🇦🇺 Australia – 2W-0L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇦🇹 Austria – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇪🇸 Spain – 0W-2L

Summary:

Spain’s new-look pairing of Daniel Zapata and Ricardo Fernandez, both lacking experience, struggled to make an impact, managing just one leg across their matches against seasoned World Cup nations Austria and Australia. Austria came close to a ton average against Spain but fell short when it mattered most. The 2022 World Cup champions, Simon Whitlock and Damon Heta, delivered a commanding 4-1 win over Mensur Suljovic and debutant Rusty-Jake Rodriguez to secure Australia’s place in the last 16.

Group I

Teams: (13) USA 🇺🇸, Hong Kong 🇭🇰, Bahrain 🇧🇭

Results:

Hong Kong 4–1 USA

USA 4–1 Bahrain

Hong Kong 4–0 Bahrain

Standings:

1st: 🇭🇰 Hong Kong – 2W-0L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇺🇸 United States – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇧🇭 Bahrain – 0W-2L

Summary:

Bahrain, making their third appearance, were once again well below standard. Averages of 53 and 63 highlight their lack of competitiveness and raise questions about whether their World Cup spot should be reconsidered in favor of stronger nations. The USA fared little better, with Danny Lauby underperforming and Jules van Dongen visibly struggling with his ongoing issues with dartitis and injuries. Despite this, Hong Kong delivered a professional and confident display, dominating the group and setting themselves up for a potential deep run in the tournament.

Group J

Teams: (14) Czechia 🇨🇿, Chinese Taipei 🇹🇼, India 🇮🇳

Results:

Czechia 4–2 Chinese Taipei

Chinese Taipei 4–2 India

Czechia 4–2 Czechia

Standings:

1st: 🇨🇿 Czechia – 2W-0L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇹🇼 Chinese Taipei – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇮🇳 India – 0W-2L

Summary:

India’s Nitin Kumar and debutant Mohan Goel finished third but were competitive, taking four legs across their matches and showing plenty of promise. Chinese Taipei, who impressed on debut last year by topping their group, almost progressed again but missed crucial chances. Czechia, led by experienced captain Karel Sedlacek and buoyed by passionate debutant Petr Krivka, successfully navigated the group to top the standings.

Group K

Teams: (15) Croatia 🇭🇷, Japan 🇯🇵, Switzerland 🇨🇭

Results:

Japan 4–3 Croatia

Croatia 4–3 Switzerland

Switzerland 4–1 Japan

Standings:

1st: 🇨🇭 Switzerland – 1W-1L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇭🇷 Croatia – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇯🇵 Japan – 1W-1L

Summary:

Alex Fehlmann returned to the Switzerland squad for the first time since 2018, when he famously beat Gerwyn Price 4-3. Partnered with Stefan Bellmont, they recovered from a slow 74-average loss to Croatia to dominate Japan 4-1, securing progression on leg difference. Croatia missed their chance to advance after squandering multiple match darts versus Japan, who themselves missed out due to a 4-1 defeat to Switzerland.

Group L

Teams: (16) Finland 🇫🇮, New Zealand 🇳🇿, Argentina 🇦🇷

Results:

New Zealand 4–0 Finland

Argentina 4–1 Finland

Argentina 4–3 New Zealand

Standings:

1st: 🇦🇷 Argentina – 2W-0L (Progress to the Last 16)

2nd: 🇳🇿 New Zealand – 1W-1L

3rd: 🇫🇮 Finland – 0W-2L

Summary:

Debutants Jesús Salate and Victor Guillin delivered for Argentina after winning the Latin American and Caribbean Qualifier. They dismantled No.16 seeds Finland 4-0 before narrowly beating New Zealand 4-3 to top the group. Haupai Puha impressed for the Kiwis, but debutant Mark Cleaver struggled to find his rhythm. Finland, the No.16 seeds, were disappointing, managing just one leg across two games, averaging around 76, bowing out quietly.

🧩 Last 16 Draw

After Friday night’s matches concluded, the knockout stage draw took place live on stage in Frankfurt. The top four seeds were pre-placed, while the remaining 12 group winners were drawn at random, setting up a mix of classic rivalries and intriguing fresh matchups.

Draw in Full:

England (1) vs (7) Germany

Argentina vs Australia

(4) Northern Ireland vs South Africa

(8) Ireland vs Switzerland

(2) Wales vs Philippines

(11) Sweden vs Hong Kong

(3) Netherlands vs (5) Scotland

(14) Czechia vs Malaysia

Final Thoughts

The group stage delivered plenty of drama, emotion, and a mix of standout performances alongside some disappointments. Twelve teams progressed, with an impressive seven non-seeded nations advancing, including surprise packages Argentina, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong, all delivering excellent displays. Meanwhile, established contenders like Belgium and Austria will be left frustrated by their underwhelming exits.

The Last 16 promises fascinating ties: host nation Germany face the overwhelming favourites England’s Luke Littler and Luke Humphries; No.3 seeds Scotland meet the dominant No.5 seeds Netherlands; and Wales’ Clayton and Price return to take on a lively Philippines side who upset Belgium.

Saturday’s knockout matches will be first to 8 legs, ramping up the intensity as the race for World Cup glory heats up ahead of Sunday’s quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final.