Telegram bots have become an integral part of digital sports: they provide users with match results, odds, player statistics, and even predictions. But for the bot to operate in real-time and be accurate, access to reliable data sources — sports APIs — is necessary.
One of the popular services is API-sport, which provides a complete range of information information about sports events, statistics, and transfers. Such an API is useful for:
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developers of Telegram bots and mobile applications,
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betting platforms,
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sports media and analytical companies,
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forecasting specialists and Fantasy Sports.
Using sports APIs allows for the automation of information gathering, avoiding manual data entry, and increases the value of your Telegram bot for the audience.
¿Qué es API-sport?
API (Application Programming Interface) is an interface for interaction between applications. With it, a Telegram bot can receive up-to-date data on sports events without the need to store them locally.
API-deporte — a specialized service for accessing sports data that appeared a few years ago and quickly became popular due to its extensive database and quality documentation.
With API-sport, you can obtain:
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live match results,
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archived data and statistics,
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information about team lineups and players,
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transfers and changes in teams,
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bookmaker odds.
The feature of API-sport compared to other services is the high speed of data updates, coverage of many sports, and support for live data through WebSocket, which is especially important for betting and predictions.
¿Cómo usar la API de deportes para un bot de Telegram?
A Telegram bot connected to API-deporte, can work with a variety of information:
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match results and events in real-time,
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odds for betting and predictions,
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player and team statistics, including goals, assists, and cards,
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information about lineups, transfers, and team news,
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data for calculating odds and match outcomes.
Deportes soportados
API-sport covers a wide range of disciplines, making it versatile for Telegram bots:
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football, hockey, basketball, tennis, volleyball, baseball,
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esports: Dota 2, CS:GO, League of Legends,
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other less popular sports and tournaments around the world.
Tecnologías y formatos
API-sport supports standard technologies and data transmission formats:
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REST API for standard requests,
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WebSocket for live data,
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JSON and XML for structured information.
Using these technologies allows for the integration of the API into almost any Telegram bot or mobile application.
¿Cómo acceder a la API?
To use the sports API for a Telegram bot, the first step is to officially register on the platform. This is necessary to obtain a unique API key that allows your bot to securely access the service and retrieve data. The API key acts as an application identifier and provides control over the number of requests, available features, and pricing.
Registration and obtaining an API key
The connection process looks as follows:
- Registration on the platform. A personal account is created, where you can manage subscriptions, check usage statistics, and receive updates about the service.
- Creating an API key. After registration, the user receives a unique key that is used in HTTP requests for authorization.
- Configuring the application or bot. The API key is integrated into the Telegram bot using Python, JavaScript, or another programming language library.
Choosing a plan
The choice of tariff depends on the tasks: whether you just need to test the API, obtain basic statistics, or use live data and advanced features for analytics and betting.
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Free tariff: designed for testing and familiarization with the API. Basic data on several sports is available, with a limited number of requests per day and basic statistics on teams and players.
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Paid tariffs: unlock advanced features — live results, historical data, detailed statistics of players and teams, bookmaker odds, as well as access to the full list of tournaments and disciplines. The higher the tariff, the greater the number of requests and capabilities for the Telegram bot.
RapidAPI, SportRadar y otras plataformas proporcionan acceso a BetsAPI y Livescore API a través de sus canales. Esto es conveniente para los desarrolladores que necesitan integraciones listas y SLA confiables.
In addition to official access, connection is possible through sports API aggregators, such as RapidAPI or SportRadar. This is convenient if you want to combine several data sources into one application.
However, third-party providers have their own peculiarities:
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limitations on the number of requests per unit of time,
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delay in updating live data, which can be critical for betting and notifications,
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partial absence of some features available in the official API.
Número de solicitudes por minuto/hora
When working with the API it is necessary to consider that even paid tariffs have certain limits and usage rules:
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Number of requests: most tariffs limit how many requests can be sent per minute, hour, or day.
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Speed of live data updates: for a bot that notifies users about events in real time, it is critical that the data is updated with minimal delay.
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Restrictions on sports or tournaments: some tariffs provide access only to a certain number of disciplines, which is important to consider when developing a universal bot.
Understanding these aspects helps to properly configure the Telegram bot so that it works efficiently and stably, without exceeding limits and providing users with up-to-date information.
Integración de API
Ejemplos de conexión (Python, JavaScript)
Python:
importar solicitudes
url = «https://api-sport.pro/v1/football/matches»
headers = {«X-API-KEY»: «YOUR_API_KEY»}
respuesta = solicitudes.get(url, encabezados=encabezados)
data = response.json()
print(data)
JavaScript:
fetch(«https://api-sport.pro/v1/football/matches», {
headers: { «X-API-KEY»: «YOUR_API_KEY» }
})
.then(res => res.json())
.then(data => console.log(data));
Integración en CMS y aplicaciones móviles
API-sport easily connects to WordPress, Android, and iOS. For bots, you can use Python or Node.js, and for websites — REST API through plugins or custom scripts.
Uso de datos en vivo a través de WebSocket
WebSocket allows for instant updates without constant requests to the server (polling). This is critical for betting and notifications in the Telegram bot.
¿Dónde se utiliza?
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Betting and odds scanners: tracking odds in real time.
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Sports analytics: predictions based on team and player statistics.
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Media and fan applications: publishing results, news, and lineups.
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Fantasy Sports and esports: managing virtual teams and predictions.
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BI systems and Big Data: analyzing sports data for strategies and reporting.
Ventajas y desventajas
Ventajas:
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wide coverage of sports,
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alta velocidad de actualización de datos,
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accuracy and reliability of information,
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convenient formats for integration (JSON/XML, WebSocket).
Contras:
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the cost of paid tariffs,
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limitations of free access,
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the complexity of integration for beginners without programming experience.
Alternativas a API-sport.
There are other popular sports APIs that developers can use in their projects. For example, SportRadar provides a wide coverage of events and has an official license, but its use often comes at a higher cost. RapidAPI offers aggregated packages with many small APIs, but there may be limitations on data update frequency and the number of requests. The choice of a specific service depends on the project’s goals: for Telegram bots and small applications, API-sport is often preferred, as it combines ease of integration with affordable pricing and stable performance.
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Hay acceso gratuito?
Yes, API-sport provides a free plan for testing with a limited number of requests.
¿Qué deportes son compatibles?
Football, basketball, hockey, tennis, esports, and over 20 other disciplines.
¿Es la API adecuada para apuestas?
Yes, API-sport provides odds and live results for outcome calculations.
How to connect the API to a Telegram bot?
You need to register on the platform, obtain an API key, and use REST or WebSocket for data requests.
¿Se puede usar la API para predicciones?
Yes, player, team, and transfer statistics allow for building forecasts and analytical models.
Where to watch updates and news about the service?
To track news, it is best to use the official channels and API documentation.
