Apple expands Sports app to 90 countries

Apple said on May 19 that it expanded its Apple Sports app to more than 90 additional countries and regions, widening the iPhone app’s reach ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026. The company said the rollout takes the app to more than 170 countries and regions in total. Apple also added World Cup-specific features, including personalized real-time updates tied to users’ favorite national teams. The expansion broadens access to an app Apple first introduced in February 2024 as a free iPhone service for live scores, stats and game tracking. Apple’s original launch covered the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, and the company later added markets in Europe and Latin America before this latest release. (apple.com) ### Which countries were added in this rollout? Apple said the new markets include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines, among others. MacRumors reported the company described the change as availability in “more than 90 additional countries,” while Apple’s newsroom post said the app is now downloadable in more than 170 countries and regions overall. (apple.com) The App Store listing shows Apple Sports is offered as a free download for iPhone, with availability and features varying by country, region or device. Apple says the app requires iOS 17.2 or later. ### What changed for the World Cup? Apple said the update adds “personalized, real-time FIFA World Cup 2026 features” designed to help users follow the tournament. (apple.com) MacRumors said those features include a new way to follow the tournament as a whole or track a preferred national team, with scoreboards and match details centered on those selections. (sports.apple.com) 9to5Mac reported the changes arrived in version 4.0 of the app, which lets users follow “FIFA World Cup 2026” directly in addition to individual teams. Cult of Mac said the rollout came “just in time for the World Cup,” describing the expansion as timed to broader international interest in the tournament. (apple.com) ### How does the app fit into Apple’s broader sports push? Apple’s support materials say the app offers real-time scores and stats, box scores, play-by-play, team stats, lineup information and betting odds where available. Apple also says users can tap from the Sports app into the Apple TV app to find live-game viewing options, and can sync followed teams and leagues with Apple TV and Apple News. (9to5mac.com) In February 2026, Apple added golf coverage and said at the time that Apple Sports was available in over 40 countries and regions. The May 19 expansion marks a much broader international release than that earlier update. ### What happens next for users? Apple said Apple Sports remains free to use and available on supported iPhone models through the App Store. (support.apple.com) The company’s newsroom post on May 19 said World Cup features are now part of the app, and Apple’s user guide says some features vary by market. (apple.com) FIFA World Cup 2026 is the next named event tied to the update, and Apple said the app’s new tournament tools are intended to help users follow every moment of the competition in the expanded set of countries and regions. (apple.com)