The Apple Sports app is turning into a much larger international platform ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 by expanding to more than 90 additional countries and regions.
Apple announced on May 19 that Apple Sports is now available in more than 170 countries and regions worldwide. The update adds World Cup-focused features including tournament brackets, lineup formations, widgets, and Live Activities support for iPhone and Apple Watch.
The expansion comes ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026, which begins in June. Apple Sports launched in 2024 as a fast score-tracking app focused primarily on North American leagues and live game updates.
Apple is now bringing the app to a much larger international audience and connecting it more closely to services like Apple TV and Apple News. The company said users can follow the full tournament or individual national teams through customizable scoreboards and live match updates.
Compatible iPhones and Apple Watches can display Live Activities for ongoing matches. Widgets on iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices also provide real-time standings and score tracking.
Apple is tying Sports more closely to its services platform
Apple Sports now links directly into the Apple TV app to help users find live matches across connected streaming services. A new Apple News integration also directs users to tournament coverage and headlines with a single tap.
The approach allows Apple to build more engagement around major sports events without owning every broadcast right itself. Instead, Apple is positioning the iPhone, Apple Watch, widgets, and notifications as the layer users interact with throughout live games and tournaments.
"The World Cup unites fans across the globe, making it the ideal moment to bring Apple Sports to even more users," Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Music, Sports, Apple TV, and Beats, said in a statement.
Apple is also adding several World Cup-specific features designed to improve tournament tracking during the competition.
A new bracket view allows users to follow team progression from the group stage through elimination rounds. Enhanced game cards now show visual starting formations before matches begin, giving users a clearer view of team lineups ahead of kickoff.
Soccer's larger global audience compared to most North American sports leagues is reflected in the international rollout. Apple's expansion into sports through products like MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and the Apple News sports section, gives the company a significantly larger international audience for Apple Sports.
