WORLD MATCHPLAY FACES MAJOR SHAKE-UP IF ENGLAND REACH WORLD CUP FINAL

THE World Matchplay schedule will be reshuffled if England reach the FIFA World Cup final.

Play gets underway in Blackpool on Saturday, July 18, with the opening round taking place across four sessions from Saturday through to Monday.

But if the Three Lions make the World Cup final, the first three sessions of the tournament will all be brought forward to allow fans to watch both events.

PDC chiefs have confirmed contingency plans for the opening weekend of the Winter Gardens showpiece to avoid a blockbuster TV clash.

Saturday's afternoon session will move forward to 1pm, while the scheduled Sunday afternoon session will instead be played on Saturday evening at 7pm.

And the planned Sunday night session will then switch to Sunday afternoon at 1pm, avoiding a direct clash with the World Cup final later that evening.

All tickets will automatically remain valid for the rescheduled sessions, with fans keeping the same matches they originally purchased tickets for.

The PDC will confirm whether the revised schedule is required after Thomas Tuchel’s men face Argentina on Wednesday, with ticket holders set to receive full details on Thursday, July 16.

Supporters unable to attend a rearranged session will be able to claim a refund through SeeTickets or resell their tickets via the SeeTickets Fan-to-Fan platform.

Any schedule changes will also apply to tickets bought through Sportsbreaks.com and hospitality packages purchased via Sport & Music.

Defending champion Luke Littler is targeting the £225,000 top prize as he looks to continue his stunning clean sweep of televised majors this season.

World No1 Littler has already taken the World Championship, Masters, UK Open, Premier League and World Cup.

The teen sensation takes on German ace Niko Springer in the opening session of the Premier event.

Premier League stars Josh Rock and Stephen Bunting meet Luke Woodhouse and Niels Zonneveld respectively.

Two-time major winner Nathan Aspinall closes the action against Joe Cullen.

The second session is headlined by three-time champion Michael van Gerwen, who begins his bid for another crown against Andrew Gilding.

Gary Anderson takes on Ryan Joyce, while Jonny Clayton locks horns with Damon Heta and Chris Dobey faces Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Reigning European champ Gian van Veen takes on Krzysztof Ratajski in the third session of round one games, while 2007 champion James Wade - last year's runner-up in his seventh appearance in the final - clashes with Jermaine Wattimena.

Wessel Nijman is bidding to break new ground and win a maiden major title as he opens his account against Dave Chisnall, while World Championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle faces William O'Connor.

The opening round concludes on Monday night, with 2024 champion Luke Humphries battling Cameron Menzies.

Gerwyn Price faces Martin Schindler, Danny Noppert takes on former champion Rob Cross, while Ross Smith is pitted against debutant Kevin Doets.

The second round will take place across Tuesday and Wednesday evening, before the quarter-finals are held on Thursday and Friday.

Saturday July 25 sees the semi-finals take place before the final is held on Sunday July 26, after the Betfred Women's World Matchplay takes place during the afternoon session.

2026 Betfred World Matchplay

Session Schedule – Subject To Change

Session One

Saturday July 18 (1900 BST) or Saturday July 18 (1300 BST)

Round One x4

Josh Rock v Luke Woodhouse

Stephen Bunting v Niels Zonneveld

Luke Littler v Niko Springer

Nathan Aspinall v Joe Cullen

Session Two

Sunday July 19 (1300 BST) or Saturday July 18 (1900 BST)

Round One x4

Chris Dobey v Dirk van Duijvenbode

Gary Anderson v Ryan Joyce

Michael van Gerwen v Andrew Gilding

Jonny Clayton v Damon Heta

Session Three

Sunday July 19 (1900 BST) or Sunday July 19 (1300 BST)

Round One x4

Ryan Searle v William O’Connor

James Wade v Jermaine Wattimena

Gian van Veen v Krzysztof Ratajski

Wessel Nijman v Dave Chisnall

Monday July 20 (1900 BST)

Round One x4

Ross Smith v Kevin Doets

Gerwyn Price v Martin Schindler

Luke Humphries v Cameron Menzies

Danny Noppert v Rob Cross

Tuesday July 21 (1900 BST)

Round Two x4 – match order TBC

Littler/Springer v Aspinall/Cullen

Rock/Woodhouse v Bunting/Zonneveld

Van Gerwen/Gilding v Dobey/Van Duijvenbode

Clayton/Heta v Anderson/Joyce

Wednesday July 22 (1900 BST)

Round Two x4 – match order TBC

Humphries/Menzies v Smith/Doets

Price/Schindler v Noppert/Cross

Van Veen/Ratajski v Nijman/Chisnall

Wade/Wattimena v Searle/O’Connor

Thursday July 23 (2000 BST *)

Quarter-Finals x2

Friday July 24 (2000 BST *)

Quarter-Finals x2

Saturday July 25 (2000 BST *)

Semi-Finals

Sunday July 26

Afternoon Session (1300-1700)

Betfred Women's World Matchplay

Evening Session (2000 BST*)

Betfred World Matchplay Final

* For July 23-26 evening sessions, Sky Sports on air from 1930 BST, with play commencing approximately 2005 BST.