BTTR is independent. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links.
Why trust us? · How we test
Just in time for the World Cup, Apple has rolled out its Sports app to 90 additional countries, including Australia, overnight.
But sadly for Aussie sports lovers, it's a very US-centric release that feels undercooked for the Australian market.
The free iPhone app has now landed in more than 170 countries in total, and Apple is leaning hard into the FIFA World Cup 2026 as the launch hook.
Users can follow the entire tournament or specific national teams, which triggers Live Activities on the Lock Screen and Apple Watch for at-a-glance match updates.
There are also widgets for iPhone, iPad and Mac Home Screens, a clean tournament bracket view, and a visual formations feature that shows each team's starting line-up ahead of kick-off.
A single tap also takes you straight to Apple TV to find live matches on connected streaming services.
Oliver Schusser, Apple's VP of Music, Sports, Apple TV, and Beats, said: "The World Cup unites fans across the globe, making it the ideal moment to bring Apple Sports to even more users. 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."
That all sounds promising, but the elephant in the room for Australian users is the app's coverage gaps.
While Apple Sports supports a solid range of international football competitions like the Premiere League, La Liga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1, Australian sports are notable in their absence. There's no rugby league, rugby union, AFL, or domestic cricket.
Even the A League is missing, despite a large number of international football comps being available.
If you're primarily an NRL or AFL follower, you'll likely find yourself reaching for the official apps before this Apple's Sport app becomes a habit.
For the World Cup, though, the app could be a tidy companion. The bracket view and formation cards look to be a cut above what most score apps offer, and the Lock Screen integration is the kind of small detail that makes following a tournament much less of a chore.
Pricing and availability
Apple Sports is free to download from the App Store and is available in Australia now. No subscription is required.
Latest software deals
