A Look at the PDC World Cup of Darts Previous Winners
Since its inception in 2010, the PDC World Cup of Darts has rapidly become a favourite event for darts fans. It’s a rare team tournament and a chance for players to do battle for their country while finding some form ahead of the second half of the year.
The 2025 edition of the World Cup takes place in Frankfurt from June 12th to 15th, and as always, the organisers have brought together the best available pairings from around the darting globe.
England go into the event as favourites, and the defending champions have history on their side as they step up to the oche.
The Verdict for 2025
England won the PDC World Cup of Darts in 2024, and anyone supporting the team will be happy that they go into the tournament with the two most recent World Champions. Luke Littler and Luke Humphries will defend the title, and England will start as clear favourites.
While checking the betting odds and looking to review the top online casinos in the UK, those aiming to get involved with the markets will also consider Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands. Each has a strong record in this event, but will history play a part in the 2025 World Cup?
History of the Darts World Cup
In 2010, when darts enjoyed more exposure from live TV broadcasts, new events were added to the calendar. Among them was the PDC World Cup of Darts, which would ultimately be the most popular and most enduring of the new tournaments.
The very first edition of the World Cup was held in Houghton-le-Spring in the North East of England, and it was won by the Netherlands. The Dutch team of Raymond van Barneveld and Co Stompe overcame Wales’ Mark Webster and Barrie Bates in the final.
The next tournament came along in 2012, but since then, the PDC World Cup of Darts has become an annual event. In 2013, the competition relocated to Germany, where it has remained largely unchanged.
The World Cup has been held in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Jena. In 2020, it moved out of Germany for just the second time when the Salzburgarena in Austria took on hosting duties. Darts is hugely popular among German fans, even though the home side has yet to make an impression.
The Teams to Beat
In fourteen previous editions of the PDC Darts World Cup, England has emerged as the most successful team. English pairings have won the event on no fewer than five previous occasions, including last year’s victory in 2024.
The Netherlands are just behind with four World Cup wins, and their run includes back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018. The Dutch won three tournaments in four years through Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen, but the pairings for 2025 do not include either of Holland’s finest throwers.
Scotland and Wales have won the event twice, while Australia recorded a solitary success in 2022.
World Cup Format
Forty teams will compete at the Eissporthalle in 2025. Four countries will be seeded and will progress straight to the second round. The remaining 36 sides will be split into twelve groups of three. After the group phase is complete, the best team in each section will qualify for the second round.
The countries now compete in a series of knockout matches. The second round, quarter-finals and semi-finals are played as a best of fifteen legs, while the first to ten legs will win the final.
A Thriller in 2025
The teams are in place, and the 2025 edition of the PDC World Cup of Darts promises to be the most thrilling yet. England will be the team to beat, and if the ‘two Lukes’ are close to their best, they should complete a successful defence.
One of the most interesting side notes concerns the involvement of Paul Lim. A veteran of the circuit at the age of 71, the Singapore Slinger was the first and only player to achieve a nine-dart finish at the BDO World Championships.
Elsewhere, Australia’s Simon Whitlock, Austria’s Mensur Suljovic and William O’Connor of Ireland will extend impressive individual records. Each of those players has featured in all fourteen of the PDC World Cups to date.
There are many interesting aspects to the 15th PDC World Cup of Darts, but the focus will be on the seeded nations. England are the clear favourites, while Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland have also received byes into the second round.
The Netherlands may be without their best player, but they will also look to be competitive. Elsewhere, a strong Belgium team will be hopeful of causing an upset.
Much can happen over four days of action, and the only guarantee is that we will see more world class darts. The PDC World Cup is now an established tournament, and the 2025 edition promises to be the best yet.
World Cup of Darts - Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Points | Points | Runners-up | |
| 2024 | England | 10 | - | 6 | Austria |
| 2023 | Wales | 10 | - | 2 | Scotland |
| 2022 | Australia | 3 | - | 1 | Wales |
| 2021 | Scotland | 3 | - | 1 | Austria |
| 2020 | Wales | 3 | - | 0 | England |
| 2019 | Scotland | 3 | - | 1 | Republic of Ireland |
| 2018 | Netherlands | 3 | - | 1 | Scotland |
| 2017 | Netherlands | 3 | - | 1 | Wales |
| 2016 | England | 3 | - | 2 | Netherlands |
| 2015 | England | 3 | - | 2 | Scotland |
| 2014 | Netherlands | 3 | - | 0 | England |
| 2013 | England | 3 | - | 1 | Belgium |
| 2012 | England | 4* | - | 3* | Australia |
| 2010 | Netherlands | 4 | - | 2 | Wales |
* England won the title on the sudden death doubles leg.
1 point allocated to a match win either singles or doubles