Gian van Veen reveals Michael van Gerwen World Cup update after conversation with Dutchman

The World Cup of Darts field has been officially put on notice.

Speaking to Tungsten Tales Darts, Gian van Veen revealed he is almost certain to form a Dutch dream team alongside three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen.

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Van Veen lifts lid on Van Gerwen’s World Cup participation

“It would be very nice, of course,” Van Veen said.

“I talked to Michael last year as well, he said if we ever get the chance to play together, I’m most likely going to play because I want to see how it’s like to play with you. So it would be very nice to play with Michael.

“As a Dutchman, I’ve said it before, you always expect that he’s the number one, so you want to be the number two for tournaments like the World Cup of Darts.

“Maybe now it looks like it will be the other way around. But to play with Michael, it is an honour of being a Dutchman.”

How has Van Gerwen played at previous World Cups?

Van Gerwen’s potential inclusion as one half of the Dutch team at this year’s World Cup of Darts would be extremely notable given he has missed three of the last four tournaments.

However, it is an event Van Gerwen knows well having won it three times before alongside darts great Raymond van Barneveld.

The legendary pair won the World Cup in 2014, 2017 and 2018.

In fact, from 2014 through to 2019, the Netherlands never exited before the semi-final stage.

However, since 2020, the Dutch team has reached the semi-finals just twice.

The Netherlands have also endured a serious lack of continuity when it comes to their team for the World Cup.

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Netherlands’ World Cup pairings since 2019

Van Gerwen teamed up with Jermaine Wattimena in 2019, but he was replaced by Danny Noppert in 2020.

Dirk van Duijvenbode was the next man to play alongside Van Gerwen in 2021 before the latter was swapped out for Noppert in 2022.

Van Duijvenbode and Noppert stuck together as a pair in 2023 before Van Gerwen once again returned in 2024.

However, the three-time world champion opted out of the tournament last year, with Van Veen taking his place alongside Noppert.

What has Van Gerwen said about playing in the World Cup?

But with Van Veen reaching the World Darts Championship final, where he lost to Luke Littler, Van Gerwen may feel he has as good a chance of ever to win a fourth World Cup.

The 36-year-old even hinted as much when speaking at the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters.

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When asked whether the temptation of reclaiming the World Cup of Darts appealed, Van Gerwen said: “Could be. It’s a good possibility I’m going to play this year.”

The 2026 World Cup of Darts will be held in Frankfurt from June 11 to June 14.

Northern Ireland go into the tournament as defending champions thanks to Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney’s heroics last year as they beat the Welsh pairing of Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price to win the World Cup.