Get ready for the World Matchplay 2026! The highly anticipated schedule is out, promising thrilling darts action in Blackpool. Kicking off on Saturday, July 18th, top players like defending champion Luke Littler will face Germany’s Niko Springer, while Martin Schindler is set for a Monday clash against Gerwyn Price. However, a major twist could shake up the first weekend: the performance of the English national football team in the World Cup semi-finals might force a complete schedule reshuffle, potentially cancelling Sunday evening’s session. Read on for all the confirmed match-ups and crucial details!
World Matchplay 2026: The Grand Opening
The PDC has meticulously planned the first-round fixtures for the World Matchplay 2026, setting the stage for an unforgettable tournament at the iconic Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Here’s a breakdown of the initial sessions:
Saturday, July 18th – Evening Session (20:00 CEST)
- Josh Rock (8) vs. Luke Woodhouse – The tournament opener!
- Stephen Bunting (9) vs. Niels Zonneveld
- Luke Littler (1) vs. Niko Springer – Defending champion meets a promising German talent in Springer’s Blackpool debut.
- Nathan Aspinall (16) vs. Joe Cullen
Sunday, July 19th – Afternoon Session (14:00 CEST)
- Chris Dobey (13) vs. Dirk van Duijvenbode
- Michael van Gerwen (4) vs. Andrew Gilding – A clash featuring one of darts’ all-time greats.
- Gary Anderson (12) vs. Ryan Joyce
- Jonny Clayton (5) vs. Damon Heta
Sunday, July 19th – Evening Session (20:00 CEST)
- Ryan Searle (11) vs. William O’Connor
- James Wade (6) vs. Jermaine Wattimena
- Gian van Veen (3) vs. Krzysztof Ratajski
- Wessel Nijman (14) vs. Dave Chisnall
Monday, July 20th – Evening Session (20:00 CEST)
The first round concludes with these critical encounters:
- Ross Smith (15) vs. Kevin Doets
- Gerwyn Price (7) vs. Martin Schindler – A highly anticipated battle between two powerhouses.
- Luke Humphries (2) vs. Cameron Menzies
- Danny Noppert (10) vs. Rob Cross
Potential Schedule Shake-Up: The Football Factor
Just like the UEFA European Championship in 2024, the 2026 World Cup could dramatically impact the World Matchplay schedule. If the English national football team triumphs in their World Cup semi-final against Argentina and reaches the final, the darts schedule will be significantly altered:
- Sunday evening’s session would be cancelled.
- The originally planned Saturday evening session would move to Saturday afternoon (14:00 CEST).
- The original Sunday afternoon session would shift to Saturday evening (20:00 CEST).
- The original Sunday evening session would move to Sunday afternoon (14:00 CEST).
This means fans should stay alert for potential changes, especially if England progresses deep into the football tournament. The start times for afternoon (14:00 CEST) and evening (20:00 CEST) sessions would remain consistent, only their assigned days would change.
Beyond Round One: The Road to the Final
The tournament heats up quickly after the first round. Here’s a glimpse of the subsequent stages:
Second Round (Tuesday, July 21st & Wednesday, July 22nd – 20:00 CEST)
The exact order of play for Tuesday and Wednesday will be announced by the PDC during the tournament. However, potential matchups based on the draw include:
- Littler/Springer vs. Aspinall/Cullen
- Rock/Woodhouse vs. Bunting/Zonneveld
- Van Gerwen/Gilding vs. Dobey/Van Duijvenbode
- Clayton/Heta vs. Anderson/Joyce
- Humphries/Menzies vs. Smith/Doets
- Price/Schindler vs. Noppert/Cross
- Van Veen/Ratajski vs. Nijman/Chisnall
- Wade/Wattimena vs. Searle/O’Connor
For instance, if both Niko Springer and Nathan Aspinall win their first-round matches, they would face each other on Tuesday evening. Similarly, a victory for both Martin Schindler and Gerwyn Price would set up a potential second-round clash with Danny Noppert or Rob Cross on Wednesday.
Quarter-Finals
- Thursday, July 23rd (21:00 CEST): Two Quarter-Finals
- Friday, July 24th (21:00 CEST): Two Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals & Finals
- Saturday, July 25th: Both Semi-Finals
- Sunday, July 26th (21:00 CEST): The Grand Final
The final day also features the fifth edition of the Women’s World Matchplay in the afternoon, promising even more high-stakes darts action.
Revised Schedule If England Reaches World Cup Final
Here’s how the first three sessions would look if the English football team makes it to the World Cup Final:
- Session 1: Saturday, July 18th, 14:00 – 18:00 CEST (Original Saturday Evening matches)
- Session 2: Saturday, July 18th, 20:00 – 00:00 CEST (Original Sunday Afternoon matches)
- Session 3: Sunday, July 19th, 14:00 – 18:00 CEST (Original Sunday Evening matches)
- Sunday, July 19th evening: NO PLAY
This re-arrangement ensures that fans can follow both major sporting events without conflict. Stay tuned for official announcements from the PDC regarding any schedule adjustments.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
