Apple has made a quiet but powerful move. The company has added support for many new countries in its Apple Sports app. This is not a small update. This is a big change. People in India, Brazil, and many other places can now use the app to follow their favourite teams.
If you love cricket, football, or basketball, this news is for you. Apple Sports was first launched in the United States. Now it is going worldwide. This article will tell you everything you need to know. We will keep things simple. No hard words. No hidden meaning. Just clear helpful information.
What is Apple Sports App?
First let us understand what this app does. Apple Sports is a free app made by Apple. It gives you live scores, team news, and match updates. The app works on iPhone. You can see all matches in one place. You do not need to open five different apps. You do not need to search for scores on Google again and again.
The app is very clean. There are no pop up ads. There is no extra clutter. You open the app and you see the match. That is all. Apple made this app for people who love sports but do not have time to watch every match live.
Which New Countries Get Support?
This is the most important question. Apple has added support for many countries at once. Here is the simple list:
- India
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Spain
- South Korea
- Turkey
- Poland
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
- Indonesia
- Vietnam
- Egypt
Before this update, Apple Sports only worked in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Now the app is truly worldwide. If you live in any of the above countries, you can download the app and start using it right now.
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What Changes for Indian Users?
For people in India, this is a very big update. India loves cricket. India also loves football. Apple Sports now shows Indian Premier League matches. You can see live scores of IPL. You can see ball by ball updates. You can see which batsman hit a six. You can see how many wickets fell.
The app also shows Indian football matches. If you follow Indian Super League, you can see live scores. You can see match time. You can see which team is winning. All of this comes without any delay. The score updates as it happens on the ground.
Apple has also added support for local time. The matches show in Indian Standard Time. You do not have to convert anything. The app understands where you are.
How to Use Apple Sports on Your iPhone?
Using the app is very easy. You do not need any special skill. Just follow these steps:
First, open the App Store on your iPhone. Search for "Apple Sports". You will see a blue icon with a white ball inside. Tap on get. The app will download. It is completely free. You do not pay any money.
After the app is installed, open it. The app will ask for your favourite teams. You can pick cricket teams, football teams, or basketball teams. You can pick as many as you want.
Once you pick your teams, the home screen will show only those matches. You do not see other matches. You only see what you love. This keeps things simple.
You can also turn on match alerts. The phone will send you a small message when a match starts. It will also tell you if the match is close. If your team is losing by two runs in the last over, the app will tell you. You do not have to keep checking the score.
Why Apple Made This Move Now?
Apple does not do anything without a plan. The company has been building its sports business for many years. First they bought a company that makes sports apps. Then they hired people from ESPN and other sports channels. Then they started showing sports on Apple TV.
Now they are bringing everything together. Apple Sports is part of that big plan. The company wants to be the one place where you go for sports. Not TV. Not websites. Not other apps. Apple wants to be first.
The reason they chose now is simple. Cricket and football seasons are starting in many countries. IPL is coming. Football leagues are active. Apple wants to catch people when they are most interested in sports. This is smart timing.
What Makes Apple Sports Different From Other Apps?
There are many sports apps in the world. Some are very popular. But Apple Sports is different in a few important ways.
- First, there are no ads. Other apps show you big flashy ads between every score update. Apple does not do that. The app is clean. You see only the match.
- Second, the app is very fast. You tap on a match and the score comes in less than one second. Other apps take two or three seconds. In a cricket match, two seconds can feel very long. Apple made sure the app feels instant.
- Third, the app works offline for recent scores. If your internet is slow, you can still see the last score. The phone remembers it. This is very helpful in India where internet can sometimes be slow in crowded places.
- Fourth, the app connects with Apple News and Apple TV. If a match is also showing on Apple TV, the app gives you a button to watch it live. You do not have to search for the channel. Just tap and watch.
Will This App Work on Older iPhones?
This is a common question. Many people in India use older iPhones. They want to know if the app will work on their phone.
The good news is yes. Apple Sports works on iPhone models from iPhone XS and newer. This means if you have an iPhone XS, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, or iPhone 15, you are fine. You also need iOS 17 or newer. Most older iPhones can update to iOS 17. If you have an iPhone 8 or older, the app will not work. But most people upgrade every few years. So this should be fine for most users.
What Sports Can You Follow?
Apple Sports covers many sports. Here is the full list for India users:
- Cricket (IPL, international matches, World Cup)
- Football (Indian Super League, English Premier League, La Liga, Champions League)
- Basketball (NBA)
- Baseball (MLB)
- Hockey (NHL)
- American Football (NFL)
If you only care about cricket, you can turn off all other sports. The app will only show cricket. This is very helpful. You do not see football scores if you do not want them.
Does the App Work?
This is a very important question for Indian users. Many people feel more comfortable in than English. Right now, Apple Sports shows everything in English. There is no option yet.
But Apple has said they are working on adding more languages. India is a big market for Apple now. The company is opening stores in Delhi and Mumbai. They are taking India seriously. It is very likely that support will come in the next few months.
For now, the English used in the app is very simple. Words like "batting", "bowling", "wicket", "run rate" are used. If you watch cricket on TV, you already know these words. So it should not be hard to use.
How This Helps Apple?
Apple has been trying to grow in India for many years. But iPhones are expensive. Many people buy Samsung or Xiaomi instead. Apple knows this problem. So they are trying a different way. Instead of selling phones only, they are selling services.
Apple Sports is a service. It is free right now. But in the future, Apple may add paid features. Maybe you can watch full match replays. Maybe you can see player stats from past ten years. These could be paid. But the live scores will likely stay free.
By giving India a good sports app, Apple makes people love their ecosystem. Once you use Apple Sports every day, you may want to buy an iPhone next time. This is Apple's long term plan. And it is a smart plan.
What Other Apps Are Doing?
Other sports apps are not sleeping. Google has its own sports cards in Search. ESPN has a popular app. Cricbuzz is very big in India for cricket. Sofascore is also popular.
But none of these apps have what Apple has. Apple has the full power of the iPhone. The app is built into the phone's system. It uses less battery. It updates faster. It looks better. For people who care about design and speed, Apple Sports is now the best choice.
That said, Cricbuzz is still very good for deep cricket stats. If you want to know how many runs a player scored in 2019 against Australia, Cricbuzz is better. Apple Sports is for live scores and quick updates. It is not for deep history.
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How to Get the Most Out of Apple Sports?
Here are some simple tips to use the app better.
First, add all your favourite teams. Do not leave anyone out. If you like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, add both. If you like both cricket and football, add both. The app can handle many teams.
Second, turn on match alerts. This is very helpful. You do not have to check the phone again and again. The phone will tell you when something important happens. A wicket. A goal. A close finish. You will know.
Third, put the app on your home screen. Keep it in the bottom bar of your iPhone. This way you can open it in one second. When you are in a bus or train, you can quickly check the score.
Fourth, share scores with friends. The app lets you share a match score as a picture. You can send it on WhatsApp. Your friends do not need the app to see the picture. This is a nice small feature.
Any Problems Right Now
No app is perfect. Apple Sports has a few small problems right now.
First, some lower division football matches are missing. If you follow a small local team, you may not see their score. Apple only covers big leagues for now.
Second, the app needs internet to work. If you are in a place with no mobile data, you cannot see live scores. The app does not work offline for new matches. Only recent scores are saved.
Third, there is no iPad version yet. You can run the iPhone app on iPad but it looks small. Apple will likely make a proper iPad app later.
These are small problems. For most users, the app works very well.
Future of Apple Sports in India
- What can we expect in the coming months? Here are some guesses based on what Apple is doing.
- Apple will likely add support by the end of this year. They have already added to Apple Music and Apple TV. Sports is next.
- Apple may also add women's cricket. Right now the app shows men's matches only. But women's cricket is growing fast in India. Apple will not ignore this.
- Apple may also add local cricket leagues. Not just IPL. Many cities have their own small leagues. Apple may add those scores too.
- Finally, Apple may bring a paid plan that lets you watch match highlights inside the app. Right now you only see scores. Watching video would be a big step.
Conclusion
Apple Sports expanding to India and other countries is good news for sports fans. You get a free app with no ads and fast updates. You can follow cricket, football, and other sports in one place. The app is simple to use. It does not ask for your money. It does not show ugly ads. It just shows scores.
If you have an iPhone, you should try this app today. Go to the App Store. Search Apple Sports. Download it. Add your favourite teams. And enjoy the matches without any trouble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apple Sports really free?
Yes. No cost. No hidden charges. No trial period. Just free.
Can I use it on Android?
No. Apple Sports is only for iPhone. Apple does not make apps for Android.
Does it work on iPad?
You can run it but it is not made for iPad. The screen looks small.
Will it show World Cup matches?
Yes. All major cricket tournaments will be there.
Does it use a lot of battery?
No. Apple made it to use very little battery. Much less than other sports apps.