“I play to earn my living, not for my country” – Mike De Decker clear on sentiment around World Cup of Darts
PDCTuesday, 01 September 2026 at 11:30
Mike De Decker has caused some confusion with a striking remark about playing for Belgium. The Belgian darter was confronted in an interview with an earlier quote in which he stated he would no longer play for his country. De Decker clarified, however, that those words were mainly a joke and were lifted out of their original context.
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According to De Decker, the remark dates from last year, around the World Grand Prix. “I’m not playing for my country anymore,” he said at the time.
The comment then sparked plenty of reactions. De Decker looks back on that with a smile and stresses there was absolutely no deeper meaning. “I play to earn my own living,” he explained. With that, the Belgian wanted to make clear that his career is primarily about his own performances and interests as a professional darter.
Still, the remark landed differently with some people. De Decker says he received quite a few messages at the time in response to his words. “The messages I got back then…” he said, before once again making it clear his remark was not intended as an attack on the Belgian team or on the concept of the World Cup of Darts.
Don’t draw the wrong conclusions
According to De Decker, no wrong conclusions should be drawn from his words. It does not mean he wouldn’t be proud to represent Belgium. On the contrary, he says the remark had nothing to do with a lack of pride in playing for his country. It was mainly a light-hearted way to respond to the question he was asked.
The Belgian darter also referred to the chauvinistic edge that can arise around international sporting events. The World Cup of Darts is one of the few moments on the PDC calendar when players do not compete individually but on behalf of their country. For many darters, that is a special occasion where national pride plays a major role.
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With his earlier remark, De Decker mainly wanted to indicate that as a professional he ultimately plays for himself. “I play to earn my own living” was the core of his message. His results determine his ranking, prize money, and further career. That stands apart from the question of whether he wants to represent Belgium with pride.
Mike De Decker teamed up with Dimitri Van den Bergh at this year’s World Cup of Darts
The right context
According to De Decker, the confusion arose mainly because the quote was repeated without its original context. When someone only hears the words “I’m not playing for my country anymore,” it can obviously sound as if the Belgian is deliberately distancing himself from the national team. He says that is by no means the case.
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De Decker has often shown in the past that he is not afraid to speak plainly. The Belgian is known for his direct communication style and usually has little need to dress up his words. In this case too, he chose a short, striking response that then took on a life of its own.
Belgian darts fans can rest easy: De Decker will once again line up for Belgium at the World Cup of Darts next year.
Kieran WoodDarts Journalist
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He contributes to DartsNews.com, where he covers professional darts through news, match reports, analysis, and live coverage across the PDC calendar and major tournaments.
A key part of his work is on-site reporting from leading events. Kieran has covered the PDC World Darts Championship in person, reporting daily from the venue and providing first-hand insight from the tournament. During his coverage, he has conducted interviews with leading players including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price.
He is also one of the leading voices of the English-language Dartsnews Podcast, contributing regular analysis and discussion on developments across the professional darts circuit.
In his reporting, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles when new, verified information becomes available.
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