In the modern sports world, users expect instant information about matches, team statistics, results, and transfers. Live sports APIs solve this problem by providing developers and media platforms with up-to-date data in real time. With their help, interactive live result widgets can be created, and sports information can be integrated into websites, mobile applications, and analytical platforms.
One of the leading services in this area is API-sport, which provides access to a full range of sports data — from live results to archived statistics. This service is useful for developers, betting platforms, sports media, and analysts who want to build their own widgets, forecasts, and applications.
What is API-sport?
API, or Application Programming Interface, is an interface for programmatic interaction that allows websites and applications to obtain data from external sources. API-sport — a specialized service that provides sports data via API.
The platform’s history shows its popularity among betting professionals and media: the service works with a multitude of sports disciplines, offers live results, team lineups, player statistics, transfers, and archived data.
Features of API-sport:
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A full range of data: live results, odds, team lineups, player statistics, transfers.
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High update speed: especially important for real-time betting and live results.
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Ease of integration: support for JSON, XML, REST, and WebSocket.
Compared to other sports APIs, API-sport stands out for its wide coverage of leagues and disciplines, as well as the reliability of data delivery.
Data provided by the API
With the help of API-sport developers can create full-fledged live match API widgets for websites and media that allow users to receive up-to-date sports information in real time. Such widgets become an indispensable tool for sports portals, fan applications, analytical platforms, and betting services.
Match results in real time are displayed instantly, allowing users to always see the current score, periods, and outcomes of events during the game. This is especially important for websites with live results and for platforms providing betting on sports events.
Bookmaker odds in the widgets are updated in real time, allowing betting platforms and analysts to quickly respond to changes and predict outcomes. Users can see current betting lines, compare them between bookmakers, and make informed decisions.
Team compositions and player changes are another important feature. Widgets can display starting lineups, player substitutions, cards, injuries, and other events that affect the course of the match. This makes the content dynamic and interactive.
Player and team statistics allow for in-depth game analysis. Widgets can show the number of goals scored, assists, shots on target, possession percentage, and other metrics, which are useful for both fans and analysts and professional forecasters.
Transfers and transfer history give users a complete picture of changes in teams. Widgets can display recent transfers, the player’s club history, and market trends, making the content informative and interesting for fans and professionals.
Archived match data provides the opportunity to analyze past games. Users can view results from previous seasons, statistics of encounters between teams, and long-term trends, which helps in preparing forecasts and analytical materials.
Using API-sport, developers get a complete tool for creating interactive, informative, and visually appealing live score widgets that make sports websites and media platforms modern and in demand by the audience.
Supported sports
Supported sportsAPI-sport covers a wide range of disciplines:
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Football, hockey, basketball, tennis
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Volleyball, handball, baseball
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Esports (CS:GO, Dota 2, LoL)
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Individual sports (boxing, MMA, athletics)
Technologies and formats
The following technologies are available for integration:
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REST API: standard method for server requests
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WebSocket: provides instant updates without constant polling
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Data formats: JSON and XML for flexible information processing
How to access the API?
To start working with API-sport and create your own live match API widgets for websites and media, you need to go through several steps.
1. Official registration and obtaining an API key
The first step is registration on the official website API-sport.
After creating an account, you will receive a personal API key, which serves as a unique identifier for authorizing your requests to the service. This key provides secure access to data and allows tracking of API usage.
2. Choosing a tariff
API-sport offers several tariff plans — from free to professional. When choosing a tariff, it is important to assess:
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What data will be available (live results, odds, team lineups, player statistics, and transfers)
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The frequency and speed of information updates
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The possibility of access to archival statistics and historical data
3. Third-party providers
In addition to official access, there are aggregators and third-party platforms that allow connecting to live sports APIs:
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RapidAPI — a convenient platform that provides access to numerous APIs from a single interface, including API-sport. It simplifies the integration process, especially if the project uses multiple data sources simultaneously.
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SportRadar — a competitor to API-sport, offering exclusive data on regional leagues and specific sports. This option is suitable if unique statistical sets or specific betting odds are needed.
4. Free and paid tariffs
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Free tariffs are suitable for testing and basic integration. They usually limit the number of requests per minute and provide access only to basic information, such as match results and team lineups.
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Paid tariffs provide full access to the database: live results, extended player and team statistics, bookmaker odds, transfers, as well as historical archives. These plans are necessary for professional projects, analytical platforms, and high-traffic websites.
5. Restrictions and limits
When choosing a tariff, it is important to consider technical limitations:
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The number of requests per minute — exceeding the limit may lead to temporary blocking or slowing down of the API.
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The speed of live data updates — critical for websites with live results and betting platforms, where timely information is important.
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Access to archival data — in free plans, archival statistics are often unavailable, while in paid plans, full historical content can be obtained.
The correct choice of tariff and connection method ensures the stable operation of widgets and guarantees that the data will be relevant and accurate for users.
API Integration
Python:
import requests
url = «https://api-sport.pro/live/matches»
headers = {«X-API-Key»: «your_API_key»}
response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
print(response.json())
JavaScript:
fetch(«https://api-sport.pro/live/matches», {
headers: { «X-API-Key»: «your_API_key» }
})
.then(res => res.json())
.then(data => console.log(data));
Integration into CMS and mobile applications
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WordPress: plugins for displaying live results
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Android/iOS: applications with interactive live results widgets
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WebSocket: real-time data updates without periodic requests (polling)
Conclusion
Creating live match API widgets for websites and media opens up wide opportunities for displaying relevant sports data, improving user experience, and increasing audience engagement. With the help of API-sport it is possible to integrate live results, player statistics, odds, and transfers into websites, mobile applications, and analytical platforms.
Choosing the right tariff and integration method allows you to optimize work and create high-quality interactive widgets that make content relevant and useful for users. Use the capabilities of the live sports API to keep your projects one step ahead.
FAQ
Is there free access?
Yes, API-sport offers limited free tariffs for testing and basic statistics.
What sports are supported?
Football, hockey, basketball, tennis, esports, volleyball, handball, and others.
Is the API suitable for betting?
Yes, live results and odds data are actively used by betting platforms.
How to connect the API to the application?
Through REST requests or WebSocket using the API key.
Can the API be used for predictions?
Yes, based on player, team, and odds statistics, analytical predictions can be made.
