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The 2026 World Cup of Darts is about a month away, and the 40 countries being represented in Germany have been confirmed after this weekend's Austrian Darts Open.
With this event having a pairs format, we will see 80 players take the stage in Frankfurt, with a record £500,000 prize fund up for grabs.
2026 World Cup of Darts confirmed pairs and countries
The top four-seeded countries will get a bye into the second round, while the 36 other countries will play in a two-day group stage.
Top four seeds
Here are the four countries that will automatically advance to the round of 16.
- England (#1): Luke Littler and Luke Humphries
- Netherlands (#2): Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen
- Northern Ireland (#3): Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney
- Scotland (#4): Gary Anderson and Cameron Menzies
England will return the same pair as last year, as they look to bounce back after losing to Germany in their first match of the tournament in 2025.
The Netherlands will debut the exciting pair of 2026 WC runner-up Gian van Veen and three-time World Cup of Darts champion Michael van Gerwen.
Northern Ireland's pair remains the same as 2025, as Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney will attempt to defend their 2025 title.
Scotland's Gary Anderson will return, but is now paired with Cameron Menzies for the first time.
Seeds #5-16
The following countries will each play in the group stage and will play against two non-seeded countries.
- Germany (#5): Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko
- Belgium (#6): Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh
- Wales (#7): Jonny Clayton and Nick Kenny
- Ireland (#8): William O'Connor and Mickey Mansell
- Poland (#9): Krzysztof Ratajski and Sebastian Bialecki
- Sweden (#10): Jeffrey de Graaf and Oskar Lukasiak
- Australia (#11): Damon Heta and Adam Leek
- Czech Republic (#12): Karel Sedláček and Adam Gawlas
- Austria (#13): Mensur Suljovic and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
- Latvia (#14): Madars Razma and Valters Melderis
- Croatia (#15): Boris Krčmar and Pero Ljubić
- Finland (#16): Jani Haavisto and Jonas Masalin
Germany's Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko will look to replicate some of their 2025 success, as they made a run to the semifinals on home turf and shocked England in the second round.
Belgium's Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh will team up for the second time. They failed to make it out of the group stage last year.
Wales' Jonny Clayton returns, but due to Gerwyn Price's health issues, he has withdrawn his name from consideration, and will be replaced by Nick Kenny.
Ireland's William O'Connor will return for the 16th time, but will be paired with Mickey Mansell for the first time. Mansell will represent Ireland for the first time at the World Cup (he has previously represented Northern Ireland).
Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski will return for the 12th time and will play with promising up-and-coming Sebastian Bialecki.
Australia's Damon Heta returns to try and claim a second career World Cup title, but will be with Adam Leek, not Simon Whitlock. Whitlock has represented Australia in all of their previous World Cup appearances.
Non-seeded countries
Here are the 24 non-seeded countries that will be in the group stage.
- Canada: Jim Long and David Cameron
- China: Qingyu Zhan and Xiaochen Zong
- Denmark: Andreas Toft Jørgensen and Jonas Graversen
- France: Thibault Tricole and Nicolas Thuillier
- Hong Kong: Man Lok Leung and Lok Yin Lee
- Hungary: Patrik Kovács and Pál Székely
- India: Nitin Kumar and Ankit Goenka
- Italy: Michele Turetta and Riccardo Castelli
- Japan: Motomu Sakai and Haruki Muramatsu
- Lithuania: Darius Labanauskas and Mindaugas Barauskas
- Mongolia: Altantülkhüür Myagmarsüren and Ganzorig Lkhagvasüren
- New Zealand: Jonny Tata and Ben Robb
- Norway: Cor Dekker and Kent Jøran Sivertsen
- Philippines: Alexis Toylo and Paolo Nebrida
- Portugal: Luis Camacho and José de Sousa
- Singapore: Paul Lim and Phuay Wei Tan
- Slovenia: Benjamin Pratnemer and Stefano Božiček
- South Africa: Graham Filby and Devon Petersen
- Spain: Cristo Reyes and José Justicia
- Switzerland: Stefan Bellmont and Marcel Walpen
- Thailand: Sarayut Ouamuapa and Sorawis Rodman
- Trinidad and Tobago: Joshua Balfour and James Walklin
- Uganda: Patrick Ocheng and Juma Said
- United States: Adam Sevada and Stowe Buntz
Some 2026 Ally Pally favorites will play in the World Cup this year, including Paul Lim (Singapore), Motomu Sakai (Japan) and Nitin Kumar (India).
Spain's Cristo Reyes will return, playing in his 6th World Cup, and his first since 2019. Reyes has been impressive on the Pro Tour in 2026 so far, and recently hit a 9-darter at the Austrian Darts Open.
Hong Kong, who were 2025 World Cup quarterfinalists, will return with their pair of Lok-Yin Lee and Man Lok Leung.
2020 Grand Slam of Darts champion Jose De Sousa will represent Portugal for the 7th time in his career.
The Philippines will have a pair of Alexis Toylo and Paolo Nebrida this year, which could make them one of the more dangerous non-seeded countries in the event.
Additional tour card holders will make appearances, including Cor Dekker, Thibault Tricole and Darius Labanauskas.
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