The 2026 football World Cup might be about to get underway, but the World Cup of Darts is also on the horizon.It is the one event in the darting calendar that sees the players from around the world represent their countries rather than themselves.Littler and Humphries hugely disappointed last year, crashing out in the first round they enteredGettyLuke Littler and Luke Humphries are representing England and will hope to improve on 2025’s display.The two best players in the world collapsed to a second-round defeat to Germany.That opened up the tournament and Northern Ireland claimed victory.Their pair of Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney saw off Welsh duo Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, and they are back to defend their crown.World Cup of Darts 2026: Dates and start times The World Cup of Darts is set to get going on Thursday, June 11 – the same day as the 2026 World Cup starts.It will come to an end on Sunday, June 14.The entire tournament is set to be held in Frankfurt at Eissporthalle am Ratsweg.The first day has one evening session that starts at 6pm UK time.The following three days have afternoon and evening sessions, with afternoon sessions starting at 12pm UK time, except for day two that is at 11am.Rock and Gurney shocked the favourites to claim the win with a 10-9 victoryGettyWorld Cup of Darts 2026: How to followSky Sports will have live coverage of the whole tournament.Sky Go customers will be able to stream the action through their laptops and mobile devices.Alternatively, You can sign up for Sky Sports and find out how to stream with NOW TV here. *If you make a purchase through the above link we will earn affiliate revenuetalkSPORT will also provide live coverage of the event in Germany. To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.Meanwhile, talkSPORT.com will keep you up to date with all the latest. Humphries and Littler are the clear favourites this time aroundX formerly Twitter / @SkySportsDartsWorld Cup of Darts 2026: FormatForty nations are set to compete in the 2026 edition of the World Cup of Darts.The top four nations go straight through to the second round, while the remaining 36 nations are split into 12 groups of three. The winner of each group progressed through to the second round, and then the tournament, and it is knockout from there.Each group stage game is a best-of-seven legs match, before the second round, quarter-finals and semi-finals are all best of 15 legs.The World Cup final will be best of 19 legs. All matches are played in the doubles format, with teammates taking turns at the oche.Gerwyn Price has pulled out for Wales this yearGettyWorld Cup of Darts 2026: PairsSeeds 1-4 — Exempt to Round Two(1) England — Luke Littler, Luke Humphries(2) Netherlands — Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen(3) Northern Ireland — Josh Rock, Daryl Gurney(4) Scotland — Gary Anderson, Cameron MenziesSeeds 5-16 – Seeded for Group Stage(5) Germany — Martin Schindler, Ricardo Pietreczko(6) Belgium — Mike De Decker, Dimitri Van den Bergh(7) Wales — Jonny Clayton, Nick Kenny(8) Republic of Ireland — William O’Connor, Mickey Mansell(9) Poland — Krzysztof Ratajski, Sebastian Bialecki(10) Sweden — Jeffrey de Graaf, Oskar Lukasiak(11) Australia — Damon Heta, Adam Leek(12) Czechia — Karel Sedlacek, Adam Gawlas(13) Austria — Mensur Suljovic, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez(14) Latvia — Madars Razma, Valters Melderis(15) Croatia — Boris Krcmar, Pero Ljubic(16) Finland — Jani Haavisto, Jonas MasalinUnseeded NationsCanada –Jim Long, David CameronChina — Qingyu Zhan, Xiaochen ZongDenmark — Andreas Toft Jorgensen, Jonas GraversenFrance — Thibault Tricole, Nicolas ThuillierHong Kong — Man Lok Leung, Lok Yin LeeHungary — Patrik Kovacs, Pal SzekelyIndia — Nitin Kumar, Ankit GoenkaItaly — Michele Turetta, Riccardo CastelliJapan — Motomu Sakai, Haruki MuramatsuLithuania — Darius Labanauskas, Mindaugas BarauskasMongolia — Altantulkhuur Myagmarsuren, Ganzorig LkhagvasurenNew Zealand — Jonny Tata, Ben RobbNorway — Cor Dekker, Kent SivertsenPhilippines — Alexis Toylo, Paolo NebridaPortugal — Luis Camacho, Jose de SousaSingapore — Paul Lim, Phuay Wey TanSlovenia — Benjamin Pratnemer, Stefano BozicekSouth Africa — Graham Filby, Devon PetersenSpain — Cristo Reyes, Jose JusticiaSwitzerland — Stefan Bellmont, Marcel WalpenThailand — Sarayut Ouamumpa, Sowaris RodmanTrinidad and Tobago — Joshua Balfour, James WalklinUganda — Patrick Ocheng, Juma SaidUSA — Adam Sevada, Stowe BuntzWorld Cup of Darts 2026: Prize moneyWinners: £100,000Runners-up: £48,000Semi-finalists: £30,000Quarter-finalists: £20,000Second round: £10,000Second in group: £6,000Third in group: £5,000World Cup of Darts 2026: Schedule(All times UK)Day 1, Thursday, June 11Evening session: 6pmDay 2, Friday, June 12Day session: 11amEvening session: 6pmDay 3, Saturday, June 13Day session: 12pmEvening session: 6pmDay 4, Sunday, June 14Day session: 12pmEvening session: 6pm