Apple Sports Expands to More Than 90 New Countries and Regions Ahead of World Cup 2026
Apple has announced a major expansion of its Apple Sports app, bringing the free iPhone application to more than 170 countries and regions worldwide — including more than 90 newly added markets — just in time for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The expansion marks a significant milestone for Apple's push into live sports coverage and fan engagement.
Apple Sports, the free app for iPhone that gives fans access to real-time scores, statistics, and more, was designed for speed and simplicity. It delivers a personalized experience, putting fans' favorite teams and leagues front and center with a clean and intuitive interface built by Apple.
World Cup-Ready Features
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 now underway across North America, Apple Sports is helping fans follow every moment of the tournament with a suite of new features. Users can explore tournament groupings and customize their scoreboards simply by following the entire tournament or their favorite national teams.
Following a team enables Live Activities on a user's iPhone Lock Screen or Apple Watch, allowing them to stay on top of every match with just a quick glance. Fans can also add widgets to their iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Home Screens to track the progress of the tournament in real time.
New features designed specifically for the World Cup include:
- Tournament Bracket View: A clean, scrollable view of matchups and results for each round, allowing fans to easily track a team's progression from the group stage through the final match.
- Enhanced Game Cards: Detailed game cards featuring visual formations for each team's starting lineup, providing deeper tactical insight ahead of each match.
- Apple News Integration: Direct access to comprehensive editorial coverage, including the latest headlines from Apple News.
With Apple Sports, fans can easily jump to the Apple TV app with a single tap to find live matches on connected streaming services throughout the tournament.
A Growing Sports Platform
"The World Cup unites fans across the globe, making it the ideal moment to bring Apple Sports to even more users," said Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Music, Sports, Apple TV, and Beats. "Apple Sports was designed to be fast and simple, giving fans an easy way to stay on top of scores, stats, and the action that matters most in real time."
The expansion comes as Apple continues to invest heavily in its sports offerings. The company currently holds rights to Major League Soccer broadcasts via the Apple TV app, has a multi-year partnership with Major League Baseball for "Friday Night Baseball," and recently announced a landmark deal with Formula 1 for race coverage in the United States.
Availability
Apple Sports is now available as a free download on the App Store in more than 170 countries and regions. The app requires an iPhone running iOS 18 or later, with Live Activities available on compatible Apple devices running iOS 18 or later and watchOS 11 or later. Widget support on iPad requires the compatible Apple Sports app.
To get Live Activities, fans must be on compatible Apple devices running iOS 18 or later, and watchOS 11 or later. A subscription is required for some services, and availability and content may vary by country or region.
Image Source: Apple Newsroom
