Summary:
France was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup of Darts in the round of 16, losing 8-7 to Latvia on Saturday afternoon in Frankfurt. After a flawless group stage against China and Austria, the French duo of Thibault Tricole and Nicolas Thuillier fell just one match short of the quarterfinals.
Key Takeaways
The score alone speaks to the tension of the match: 8-7, meaning the outcome was decided in the very last leg. Latvia, led by Madars Razma and Valters Melderis, ultimately defeated a French team that had shown real resilience since the start of the tournament. According to the statistics from the session, the Latvians posted a team average of 79.53, compared to 77.80 for the French a narrow margin that confirms just how close this matchup was.
For the French delegation, the frustration is understandable. Their run to the round of 16 had given the impression that an upset was possible in this 2026 edition. France had won both of its group matches 4-3 against China and then 4-3 against Austria, which allowed it to finish first in Group I and give itself a real chance in the final bracket.
An elimination that cuts short a promising run
What makes this exit even harder to swallow is the consistency of France’s performance since Friday. In the group stage, Les Bleus had already played two very close matches and managed to turn them around in their favor. On Saturday, they played another close match, but the final swing went Latvia’s way. In a nations tournament played exclusively in doubles, every break, every finish, and every missed opportunity counts immediately, and the margin remains razor-thin even between teams separated by several spots on paper.
It’s also worth noting the format of this World Cup of Darts: starting in the round of 16, all matches are best-of-15 legs, which gives a little more time for the favorites to assert themselves, without ever eliminating the risk of a tense match right down to the wire. Latvia seized its opportunity perfectly and thus advances to the quarterfinals, where it will face Northern Ireland, the defending champion.
What France Still Shows Promise Of
This elimination shouldn’t overshadow the positives. France had emerged from a tough group featuring Austria, the top seed in their pool, and managed to string together two wins under pressure. Tricole and Thuillier didn’t just participate; they made their mark on the tournament and showed they could compete, even if only briefly, with nations more established in the PDC landscape.
Looking ahead, this run can serve as a foundation rather than a mere source of regret. By winning twice 4-3 before losing 8-7, France confirmed that it knows how to stay in matches. The next goal will now be to turn this kind of resilience into a qualification for a major quarterfinal. To put this exit into the broader context of the tournament, you can also revisit the complete guide to the 2026 World Cup of Darts, now updated with all the round of 16 and quarterfinal matchups.
Saturday’s results and the rest of the bracket
The day also saw Scotland crush Norway 8-0, England edge out Spain 8-5, Northern Ireland pull off an 8-7 win against Belgium, and the Netherlands defeat Sweden 8-6. France is therefore not the only team to have experienced a nail-biting match, but it is among the teams leaving with the feeling that a quarterfinal spot was truly within reach.
On Sunday, June 14, the competition will reach its decisive day with the quarterfinals in the afternoon, followed by the semifinals and the final in the evening. France will no longer be in the running, but its 2026 tournament at least leaves the impression of a team capable of catching the right train and staying in the race until the very last leg.
