2025 World Cup of Darts Preview: Who Will Lift the Trophy in Frankfurt?
- Darts Central
- Jun 11
- 4 min read
The BetVictor World Cup of Darts returns this week as 40 nations descend on Frankfurt, Germany, for four days of high-stakes international action at the Eissporthalle. Played from Thursday 12th to Sunday 15th June, the all-pairs format promises drama from the very first throw to the final dart on Sunday night.
England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have been seeded directly into Saturday’s Last 16, courtesy of being the top four-ranked nations. The remaining 36 countries will battle it out in a group stage on Thursday and Friday. Nations ranked 5–16 are seeded into groups alongside unseeded teams, with only the group winners advancing to the knockout stages, where the top four seeds await.
As global darts continues to grow, this tournament showcases a wealth of exciting nations and emerging talents in the PDC’s only pairs event, a fan favourite thanks to its unique format and the rare opportunity to represent your country. England are the defending champions, but Luke Humphries returns with a new partner in reigning World Champion and World No.2, teenage sensation Luke Littler. The duo enter as overwhelming favourites to lift the title in Frankfurt.
🧩 Tournament Format Explained
Here’s how the 2025 World Cup of Darts will work:
40 teams in total
Top 4 seeds (ENG, WAL, SCO, NIR) begin in the last 16 on Saturday
Remaining 36 teams are split into 12 groups of 3, with seeds 5–16 placed in groups
Only the group winners progress to the knockout stages
All matches are played as pairs/doubles
First to 4 legs in the Group Stage; first to 8 legs from the Last 16 to the Semi-Finals; first to 10 legs in the Final
Knockout draw conducted live on stage after Friday’s final group game
KO stage: Last 16 (Saturday), Quarter-Finals, Semis & Final (Sunday)
🔥 Groups to Watch
Group B - Belgium (6), Philippines, Latvia
Belgium’s Mike De Decker makes his debut alongside Dimitri Van den Bergh, who returns after a two-month break from competition. The Philippines field a promising duo in Asian Tour leader Lourence Ilagan and World Championship Last 32 debutant Paolo Nebrida. Latvia’s Madars Razma is the standout in a team that also includes Valters Melderis, making his third consecutive appearance.
Group H - Austria (12), Australia, Spain
Austria, last year’s finalists, feature ever-present Mensur Suljović and debutant Rusty-Jake Rodriguez. 2022 champions Australia return with Damon Heta and veteran Simon Whitlock, while Spain’s all-debutant pairing of Daniel Zapata Castillo and Ricardo Fernandez Carballo face a tough challenge.
Group J - Czechia (14), Chinese Taipei, India
Karel Sedláček leads Czechia once again, this time partnered by passionate debutant Petr Křivka. Chinese Taipei shocked many by topping their group on debut last year, and return with Teng Lieh Pupo and An-Sheng Lu. India, with Nitin Kumar and debutant Mohan Goel, are still seeking their first World Cup win.
🎯 Top 4 Teams
(1) England 🏴
Luke Humphries returns to defend the title, this time partnered by debutant and World Champion Luke Littler. Ranked No.1 and No.2 in the world, they’re clear favourites to lift the trophy for many.
(2) Wales 🏴
Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton reunite after Price missed last year’s event through injury. The 2020 and 2023 champions have reached three of the last four finals together and arrive in strong form once again. With their on-stage camaraderie, chemistry, and sustained success, they’ve become one of the most iconic duos in World Cup history.
(3) Scotland 🏴
Peter Wright and Gary Anderson return for a third straight year, aiming for a second World Cup title together. They were runners-up in 2023 and semi-finalists in 2022, and with four World titles between them, remain a serious threat.
(4) Northern Ireland 🇬🇧
Brendan Dolan’s ever-present streak ends as Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney team up in a fresh pairing. Rock has impressed this year with big averages and a Players Championship title, while Gurney recently hit a Euro Tour average personal best. They’ll be pushing to reach their nation’s first-ever final.
The Dark Horses
Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Lee Lok Yin and Man Lok Leung form what is arguably Hong Kong’s strongest-ever pairing. Both are heavy scorers and come into this tournament with confidence. A deep run is certainly on the cards — potentially surpassing the quarter-final reached by a different duo back in 2015.
Chinese Taipei 🇹🇼
This crowd-pleasing pairing won hearts last year with their spirit and stage presence, and they’re back for more. After topping their group on debut in 2024, they’ll be looking to create more memorable moments — and perhaps go even further.
Philippines 🇵🇭
With experienced Asian Tour leader Lourence Ilagan alongside talented debutant Paolo Nebrida, this could be the Philippines' most competitive pairing to date. They have the potential to cause real upsets and enjoy a strong campaign.
I’m backing the Asian teams to shine this year. Their standard has risen steadily in recent seasons, and more stage experience will only help. It would be great to see some of these players join the PDC tour in the near future, there’s real potential in Asia as both a talent pipeline and market the PDC should look to revisit on the World Series circuit.
💰 Prize Money Breakdown
The total prize fund for the 2025 World Cup of Darts is £450,000, awarded per team as follows:
Stage | Prize Money |
Winners | £80,000 |
Runners-Up | £50,000 |
Semi-Finalists | £30,000 |
Quarter-Finalists | £20,000 |
Last 16 | £9,000 |
Second in Group | £5,000 |
Third in Group | £4,000 |
📅 Schedule Overview
Thursday 13th June – Group Stage (First round of matches)
Friday 14th June – Group Stage (Final group games & live knockout draw)
Saturday 15th June – Last 16 (Knockout Stage)
Sunday 16th June – Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals & Final
Final Thoughts
With 40 nations, elite pairings, and a doubles-first format, the 2025 World Cup of Darts is wide open. This unique team-based setup puts a spotlight on partnership and strategy, leveling the playing field and making every match unpredictable.
Can England defend their crown with a brand new pairing? Will Wales or Scotland recapture past glories? Or could an unseeded nation cause a major upset?
One thing’s certain: expect surprises, fierce passion, and world-class darts all weekend long in Frankfurt.
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