PREVIEW World Cup of Darts - Austria: Can the duo Suljovic and Rodriguez spring another surprise?

On Thursday, one of the most prestigious tournaments of the darts year gets underway in Frankfurt. At the 2026 World Cup of Darts, the best two players from each nation will battle for the coveted title. Austria may not be among the leading favourites, but the team has repeatedly proven in the past that you should never write off the Alpine republic.

With two finals in the past five years, Austria ranks among the nations that consistently spring surprises at this event. One name in particular is inseparably linked with the competition: Mensur Suljovic.

For Suljovic, this will be his 16th appearance at the World Cup. That puts the Viennese in an exclusive club. Alongside William O'Connor, he is one of only two players to have featured at every single staging of the tournament.

At his side for the second time is Rusty-Jake Rodriguez. The 25-year-old already qualified in 2025 and once again forms the Austrian duo.

For many years, Suljovic partnered Rowby-John Rodriguez for Austria. The pair shaped the team for more than a decade. After Rowby-John Rodriguez lost his Tour Card at the end of 2024, his younger brother Rusty-Jake stepped in permanently.

Austria’s greatest success came in 2021. Back then, the team reached the final against all odds. On the way, Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez beat the Philippines, Belgium, Northern Ireland, and even England. However, a strong Scottish team with Peter Wright and John Henderson awaited in the decider.

Suljovic won the opening match of the final, but Scotland took the next three ties. Austria lost 1-3, yet had written one of the greatest fairy tales in World Cup history. Just three years later, the next sensation followed. At the 2024 World Cup, the Austrians reached the final again.

After wins over China and Guyana, Austria first topped the group. They then edged past Chinese Taipei and Croatia. A commanding victory over Belgium followed in the semifinals. The run ended only in the final. There, Austria lost 6-10 to the English star duo of Luke Humphries and Michael Smith.

The first joint World Cup campaign of Mensur Suljovic and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, by contrast, ended in disappointment. In 2025, Austria exited in the group stage.

The performances were by no means poor. Against Spain, the duo averaged 99 points. They also posted an average above the 90-point mark against Australia.

It still was not enough to progress. Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock proved too strong and later even reached the quarterfinals. The Austrians will therefore do everything they can to avoid another early exit.

This year, Austria faces France and China in Group I. The French will be represented by Thibault Tricole and Nicolas Thuillier. China sends Zhan Qingyu and Zong Xiachen into action. Both nations have players with big-stage experience.

In particular, Tricole and Zong have already been in the spotlight several times at the World Darts Championship and the World Cup of Darts. Austria still enters the group as the favourite.

The seasons of the two Austrians could hardly be more different right now. Mensur Suljovic is playing one of his strongest years in a long time. The former World Matchplay finalist has climbed back up to No. 53 in the world rankings and is showing impressive form on the Pro Tour.

A semifinal, a quarterfinal, two last 16 runs, plus several board finals point to a clear upturn. On top of that, he has posted multiple averages over 100.

Qualification for the World Darts Championship seems virtually assured. Suljovic also has the Players Championship Finals firmly in his sights. Moreover, much points to a return to the top 50 of the world rankings for the first time in three years.

More importantly, the fears of losing his Tour Card, which had followed him in recent years, have disappeared for now.

The situation is entirely different for Rusty-Jake Rodriguez. The Viennese regained his Tour Card at the start of 2025 but has not met expectations so far. He currently sits only at No. 129 in the world rankings.

In a year and a half on tour, Rodriguez has earned just £10,000 in prize money. This season, his only wins came at Players Championships 12 and 19. In total, he has won just nine matches on tour in 2026, with only two victories yielding prize money.

His rolling 12-month average of around 83 also shows how tough he is finding life on the PDC circuit at present. There is hope, though. At the World Cup last year, Rodriguez dovetailed superbly with Suljovic. Especially in doubles, the two look far stronger than their individual results suggest.

Reaching the last 16 must be Austria’s first target. In Group I, the duo has the quality to top the group. After that, much will depend on the draw. With a favourable path, a quarterfinal run looks realistic. If Suljovic brings his current form to the stage and can pull Rodriguez along, even the semifinals are not out of reach.

Recent years have shown that Austria repeatedly punches above its weight at the World Cup of Darts. Anyone who reached the final in 2021 and 2024 should not be underestimated in 2026 either. Suljovic and Rodriguez will do everything to write the next chapter of this success story.