DISCUSSION World Cup of Darts - England reign supreme but is the bigger story prowess of Netherlands, Germany, Scotland and the Blade X?

The World Cup of Darts saw England emerge on top seeing off Netherlands in the final as Luke Littler and Luke Humphries finally achieved their destiny.

England won through 10-5 against the Dutch duo of Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen who were ultra impressive in their first run together. As were Scotland duo Cameron Menzies and Gary Anderson who again formed a stalwart of the tournament and either a newbie in Menzies' case or someone who had not teamed with said juggernaut in Van Veen with MVG.

A lot has been made for a long time though about Littler finally making it to the World Cup stage and how they were soundly beaten last year by Germany. But they have proven to themselves and those who constantly discuss them why they were the players to beat.

Samuel Gill, Head Editor for DartsNews.com saw what is often the case with a major tournament and that is a lot more talking points away from the leading lights.

Truth betold while England were the stars of the weekend and leave it with a lot of credit, I don't really see them as being the big talking point.

They kind of proved what Sky Sports had been lauding them as, if you remember all the way back two years ago Michael Smith even was handed the poisoned chalice as people thought a World No.32 Littler should be playing the World Cup over him so it's not exactly a new thing to heap pressure on England whether they have Littler and Humphries or not. This is more vindication.

The other countries impressed me more. Scotland looked an incredibly cohesive unit considering they had mad as a box of frogs Menzies involved. He was calm in teaming with Anderson and that influence nearly took them all the way while Netherlands with the duo of Van Veen and Van Gerwen will likely anchor their hopes in the future too and with a conveyor belt of Nijman, Zonneveld, Doets among others it is very likely that no matter what they will have a good team.

Also Cristo Reyes albeit couldn't do the job single handily was also the main man as he anchored Spain and was perhaps the main star other than the big names this weekend.

Pieter Verbeek, Editor for DartsNieuws.com remarked of the stories that occurred over the England win including a great run for the Netherlands.

The World Cup of Darts once again demonstrated in 2026 why it remains one of the most beloved events on the darting calendar. While many tournaments revolve around individual brilliance, the World Cup is about something entirely different: national pride, team spirit, unexpected heroes, and raw emotion. Once again, it delivered a week packed with thrilling matches, stunning upsets, and stories that will be remembered for years to come.

It became clear during the group stage that reputations count for very little when countries step onto the stage together. Of the forty participating nations, thirty-six had to navigate their way through the group phase to reach the knockout rounds, and several big names fell at the first hurdle. Australia, the 2022 champions, failed to progress to the next stage. Austria, runners-up in both 2021 and 2024, also suffered a shock early exit. Belgium appeared destined for the same fate, but received unexpected help from elsewhere. Following Hong Kong's humiliating defeat to Slovenia, the Belgians somehow sneaked through to the last sixteen in miraculous fashion.

Among all the established nations, debutants Trinidad & Tobago also managed to write a memorable chapter of their own. Their opening match against Italy was nothing short of disastrous. Averaging just 61, it seemed the tournament was a step too far for the newcomers. However, they responded admirably. In a tense encounter against Latvia, they secured a surprise 4-3 victory, ensuring the debutants enjoyed an unforgettable moment on the sport's biggest international stage.

Ironically, that same Latvian side, which had been beaten by Trinidad & Tobago, still progressed as group winners thanks to an earlier 4-2 victory over Italy. They then eliminated France with a hard-fought 8-7 triumph to reach the quarter-finals. There, they came within a single dart of a sensational place in the last four. Northern Ireland had their backs against the wall, but Josh Rock produced a magnificent 144 checkout at exactly the right moment. In doing so, he prevented one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.

The quarter-finals also delivered drama of the highest order. England, considered pre-tournament favourites with Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, found themselves on the brink of elimination against Wales. Jonny Clayton and Nick Kenny flew out of the blocks and stormed into a surprise 4-0 lead. When Clayton then missed a chance to make it 5-0, the entire complexion of the match changed. England regained confidence and, in particular, Kenny was unable to maintain the level of his opponents. Littler and Humphries eventually battled back to claim victory in a deciding leg.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands produced one of the standout performances of the weekend. Against host nation Germany, Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen delivered a superb display. Averaging 102.68, the Dutch duo showed they were genuine title contenders. Germany were swept aside 8-4 as the Netherlands booked their place in the semi-finals in convincing fashion.

England once again proved too strong in the last four. Scotland, who had been regarded as a dangerous outsider before the tournament, were given very few opportunities. Littler and Humphries comfortably dispatched their British rivals 8-3 to secure another World Cup final appearance. The Netherlands followed suit by thrashing Northern Ireland 8-2, sending Oranje into their first World Cup of Darts final since 2018.

In the final, however, it became abundantly clear why Luke Littler and Luke Humphries currently occupy the top two spots in the world rankings. The Netherlands made the stronger start and even moved into a 2-1 lead. From that point onwards, though, England shifted into another gear. In a breathtaking spell, they reeled off five consecutive legs in 15, 14, 12, 12 and 15 darts. Within minutes, a deficit had been transformed into a commanding 6-2 advantage.

From there, the Dutch simply had no answer to the relentless scoring power and clinical finishing of the English pair. The eventual 10-5 victory felt like the natural outcome. England not only lifted the trophy, but did so as the outstanding team of the tournament.

Nicolas Gayer, Editor for DartsNews.DE was on site in Frankfurt and spoke in depth about his view on the main teams including a great weekend for the Netherlands and also the return to form for Pietreczko helped by this event.

"Frankfurt, it was an honour once again. As fortunate as we are to be able to attend and cover so many darts events on German soil, this June weekend at the Eissporthalle Frankfurt always feels special. Bigger, more international — and above all, more meaningful. For the fans who travelled from Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, and many other nations, proudly displaying their flags, but especially for the players. Time and again, we witness emotional outbursts on and off the stage that we see almost nowhere else but at the World Cup of Darts.

"Let’s start at the very top of the honours list: with the winners from England. After a disappointing debut last year, the two Lukes have claimed the crown. And in my view, they have shown that many of last year’s discussions were perhaps somewhat short-sighted. Because what Luke Humphries confirmed to me during the winners’ press conference was exactly the impression I had throughout the event: not much had changed compared to last year.

"Team England once again did not appear to be an inseparable unit, like brothers on stage or the best of friends on the circuit. But they proved that you can still win the World Cup without embracing for minutes on end. At the end of the day, darts remains an individual sport. And as much as the best pairs in the world can elevate their game at the World Cup, when the two best individual players in the world line up together, there are very few teams capable of stopping them.

"The side that surprised me the most at this World Cup was the Netherlands. In our latest podcast episode, I explained at length why I expected the Dutch to be one of the disappointments of the tournament. I simply doubted that two players currently some way off their best form would be able to excel together on the World Cup stage. How wrong I was.

"From a sporting perspective, Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen were outstanding throughout the weekend — but what impressed me even more was what I saw behind the scenes. The master and his apprentice. You could tell in every moment how much Gian van Veen — the world number three, no less — relished the opportunity to stand at the oche alongside his childhood hero. And equally, it was impossible to miss the respect and affection Michael van Gerwen has for his young compatriot. The Dutch duo looked like genuine friends — constantly joking and laughing together. Without exaggeration, their chemistry was exceptional.

"Finally, a word from the German perspective. Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko arrived in Frankfurt surrounded by questions and doubts. On Sunday afternoon, they left the Eissporthalle having made a statement.

"From a German point of view, the absolute best-case scenario before the tournament was that both players could use the change of pace offered by the doubles format, combined with the passionate home crowd, to produce a breakthrough performance and build momentum for the second half of the season. And that is exactly what happened.

"As if by magic, Ricardo Pietreczko rediscovered his old throwing rhythm in record time and thrilled the fans with a series of strong performances. “Pikachu” wore a smile from ear to ear throughout the weekend. For someone to whom darts means so much, it was obvious just how happy he was to simply be throwing darts freely again.

"Alongside him stood a player who was among the tournament’s standout performers. With several outstanding individual averages of over 100, Martin Schindler produced some of the best darts of his season — and hopefully put himself back into the kind of form that will make him a genuine title contender once again in the second half of the year.

Mats Leering, Editor for DartsNieuws.com saw England as particularly fortunate and was pleasantly surprised with German hopes. "It was expected that England would go on to win this World Cup of Darts. However, it was far from a flawless campaign for the two Lukes. They were particularly fortunate in their match against Wales. Had Littler not taken out that 170 finish, I think they would have been knocked out. Even so, they showed at times why they are considered the two best players in the world. For that reason, I believe they were worthy champions.

"As for the Netherlands, I am also feeling positive. Before the tournament began, many people wondered how Van Gerwen and Van Veen would perform together, and in my opinion they did a fantastic job. I think this pairing can definitely win multiple titles in the future and comes close to matching the famous Van Gerwen–Van Barneveld partnership. Unfortunately for us Dutch fans, England proved too strong in the final, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching them.

"I was also pleasantly surprised by Germany. Initially, I thought they might struggle because of Pietreczko’s recent form, but there was little sign of that during this tournament. Backed by the home crowd, they reached a high level and produced an outstanding campaign.

"The biggest surprise was, of course, Latvia. Had Rock not landed that 144 finish, they would most likely have reached the semi-finals. While Razma is already a well-known name on the Tour, I was particularly impressed by Valters Melderis. Reaching the quarter-finals was already a milestone for Latvia, but it could have been even more special.

"Other nations that impressed me were Spain and France. Although Spain may not have been a complete surprise given that Cristo Reyes has been in outstanding form for months, I thought they genuinely challenged England. Jose Justicia also played very well in that match, and with a little more luck they could easily have pulled off a major upset. The French team, featuring Thibault Tricole and Nicolas Thuillier, also left a strong impression on me.

"The biggest disappointments for me were Austria, Australia, and, to some extent, Poland. Austria and Australia failed to make it out of the group stage, with the Australians in particular disappointing after losing both of their matches. And although Poland managed to reach the second round, I expected more from them. They were beaten there by Belgium, and I had rated both Ratajski and Białecki a little higher than what they ultimately showed.

Oliver Ried, Editor for DartsNews.DE was most disappointed with Australia...but also had a word on Blade X gate which also engulfed the weekend.

"With the World Cup of Darts, another fantastic tournament has come to an end. England emerged as worthy champions and finally showed their critics what they are capable of. The English duo moved through the tournament in very convincing fashion, with only Wales pushing them close in the quarter-finals. If Luke Littler had not taken out that 170 checkout and Nick Kenny had landed the 14 to earn a match dart, things could have become very tense. Instead, England secured their first World Cup title, and it certainly feels unlikely to be the last one for the two Lukes.

"The Netherlands also produced an excellent tournament and delivered several outstanding performances. Recording back-to-back 100+ team averages at the World Cup underlined the quality of the Dutch pairing. Ireland impressed me as well through the performances of Mickey Mansell and William O’Connor. Scotland also exceeded my expectations. I had serious doubts about that team before the tournament, but Gary Anderson and Cameron Menzies produced a superb campaign. Latvia should not be forgotten either. They came seemingly out of nowhere to reach the quarter-finals, and only Josh Rock’s brilliant 144 checkout denied them a place in the semi-finals. I was also pleased to see Trinidad and Tobago manage to record a victory during the tournament.

"Germany completely won me over as well. Ricardo Pietreczko looks capable of throwing “normally” again and, at times, reminded fans of his very best days. Hopefully he can now transfer that form back onto the ProTour. Martin Schindler, meanwhile, was simply sensational. Individual averages of 120, 103, 91 and 111 demonstrated the level Germany’s number one reached throughout the tournament. There is every reason to hope that he can carry this momentum into the upcoming events and the second half of the season.

"Australia ultimately has to be viewed as one of the disappointments of the tournament. Damon Heta and Adam Leek were handed a manageable group featuring Canada and the United States, yet they exited without a single victory. Both players performed below their usual standards, particularly Leek. Austria also disappointed me. Their strong start against China gave me hope, and they looked almost certain to advance when they moved into a 3–0 lead against France. However, they let that advantage slip away and crashed out in the group stage.

"Another loser of the World Cup was once again the Winmau Blade X. The dartboard has been criticised for some time, and Gary Anderson publicly voiced his concerns after his win on Saturday. Winmau even released a statement in response. However, when Martin Schindler posted a picture of a Blade X board in a trash bin following Germany’s quarter-final defeat, the controversy flared up once again.

"The PDC and Winmau need to take action. If so many players feel that the current board is not performing well, and there was previously a board that everyone seemed satisfied with, then something has to be done. Even in the final there were four bounce-outs. That is simply unacceptable at the highest level of the sport. In the end, though, the World Cup entertained me as much as it always does, and I am already looking forward to the next edition.

Lucas Michael, Editor for DartsNews.com finally lauded the way Scotland dealt with their new partnership as well as MVG with Van Veen.

"It has been a very enjoyable experience watching the World Cup. To see the comradery between players on stage is something very unique and special with passions flowing more freely. It is nice to see other talents make their mark, players you do not normally see whether that is due to them being on a different tour or not bestowing a Tour Card.

"As ever, a lot of storylines occurred in Frankfurt over these past four days. It is fair to say that, now it has occurred, the England title was somewhat inevitable. The two best players in the world finally found the solution on stage and showed their worth in fine fashion. In fairness, this World Cup went quite routinely. Seven of the top eight seeds were in the quarter-finals, the top four seeds made up the semi-finals with the number one and two ranked nations battling it out. In an event which is normally quite unpredictable, this year was different.

"The question has been answered in how Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson would cope with their new teammates: very well. With all the talk of a Cameron Menzies implosion, he kept his cool throughout and worked will with Anderson. Van Veen and Van Gerwen proved to be very deadly. Inconsistency issues were said to be the concern going into this tournament but they both linked up well and their run to the final represented that. Another year, one of these teams would lift the trophy, but England is just too strong. An ominous sign for years to come with the two Luke’s not going anywhere.

"As expected, the Belgian pair struggled despite getting out of the group. I really do fear that Dimitri Van den Bergh’s appearances on big stages in front of the TV cameras may be rapidly depleting. Everyone knows how good he is, but recently his form has been poor at best. That 66 average in the first match was a real sucker blow, but plaudits should be for how he reacted the next day with a much tidier showing. Similar to the football, it feels like Belgium’s golden generation as had its best days. Mike De Decker is also on the decline with Kim Huybrechts the shining light for the time being after his resurgence in form.

"On the topic of disappointing outings, Australia has to in that discussion. Damon Heta and Adam Leek failed to perform, losing both of their matched. Being the team leader alongside a young debutant, I expected more from Heta on the oche. Leek never showed his true capabilities and in the end that is a combination for disaster.

"As forementioned, it is always great to see other nations and players compete. Especially from Asia where there is an abundance of talent. It feels like for some time we have been saying that there will be a huge new talent from that part of the world, but for the time being no one has made that next step. It was a shame for the likes of Hong Kong and Japan to under perform despite who they possess in their team. Maybe one day a player from Asia can seriously challenge but until one darter makes that tricky transition over from the Asian Tour to securing a Tour Card, then it feels like they are limited.