Sports services and applications rely on operational data about matches, results, player statistics, and transfers. Sports APIs solve this task by providing developers access to up-to-date information in convenient formats.
The Goal.com API allows access to information about matches, team lineups, and transfers, but many projects choose API-sport due to its broader data coverage and integration flexibility.
These tools are useful:
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For developers: to create sports applications and services.
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For betting platforms: to calculate bets and monitor odds.
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For sports media: to publish operational statistics and news.
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For analysts: to predict results and analyze transfer activity.
What is API and API-sport?
API (Application Programming Interface) is an interface that allows programs to interact with each other. Sports APIs provide data about matches, teams, players, and events in real-time.
API-sport is a popular platform that provides extensive sports data. The service has a history of several years, and during this time it has gained the trust of developers due to its reliability and speed of information updates.
Available data from API-sport:
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Live matches: real-time results, events on the field.
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Player and team statistics: goals, assists, cards, shots, possession percentage.
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Archived data: match history, results of past seasons.
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Transfers and lineups: current changes in teams.
Features of API-sport makes it particularly attractive for developers and analysts. The service supports over 40 sports, including popular esports, allowing for a wide range of events and disciplines. One of the key advantages is the high speed of data updates and minimal latency, which is especially important for live matches and real-time betting. API-sport provides data in convenient JSON and XML formats, and also supports live streams via WebSocket, making information retrieval instant and reliable. Additionally, integration with Python, JavaScript, CMS, and mobile applications is implemented simply and flexibly, allowing for quick data incorporation into projects of any scale.
Goal.com API: using data on matches and transfers
The Goal.com API is primarily focused on football. Among the available information:
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Match results and events on the field.
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Odds and bet calculations (for some partners).
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Team lineups and player statistics.
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News about transfers and club activity.
However, compared to API-sport, Goal.com offers a limited set of sports disciplines and fewer opportunities for integration with analytical services and betting platforms.
Supported sports
Goal.com mainly focuses on football. Some data on other sports is missing. At the same time API-sport it supports:
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Football, hockey, basketball, tennis, esports.
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Athletics, baseball, rugby, and over 40 disciplines.
Technologies and formats
The Goal.com API uses standard REST requests and returns data in JSON format.
API-sport expands capabilities:
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REST and WebSocket for live updates.
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Support for JSON and XML.
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Webhook notifications for timely information on events.
How to access the API?
To work with the API of any service, official registration is required. In the case of API-sport the process looks like this:
- Registration on the service’s website – the developer creates an account on the platform, confirms the email, and gains access to the personal account.
- Obtaining a unique API key – after registration, each user is assigned an individual key, which is used for all API requests. This ensures security and control over data usage.
- Choosing a plan based on the volume of requests – the service offers several plans: from a free trial plan for experiments to PRO subscriptions with a larger number of requests, live data, and extended statistics.
Unlike API-sport, the Goal.com API is most often available only through partnership agreements, which limits the possibility of direct registration and complicates the process of obtaining a key.
10. RapidAPI, SportRadar, and other platforms provide access to BetsAPI and Livescore API through their channels. This is convenient for developers who need ready-made integrations and reliable SLAs.
Direct connection to the API is not always possible. For the Goal.com API, access is provided only through a limited number of partners, which complicates flexible data usage and integration into projects.
For API-sport there are several alternative connection options:
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RapidAPI – a convenient aggregator of many APIs. It allows you to test the service, make trial requests, and quickly integrate data. The main downside is the limited speed and number of requests in the free plan.
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SportRadar – a licensed provider of sports data that ensures reliability and a wide range of information, but with higher tariff costs.
Thanks to these capabilities, API-sport offers greater flexibility for developers and companies of various sizes.
12. Free plans usually include limited access to historical data and basic statistics. Paid subscriptions unlock:
Goal.com API is more often focused on paid partner access. Free trial versions are either absent or extremely limited in the number of requests and functionality.
API-sport offers:
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Free trial plan – allows you to familiarize yourself with the service, make a limited number of requests, and receive basic data about matches and transfers.
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Paid subscriptions – provide access to advanced features: live data, archived results, player and team statistics, transfer information, notifications via WebSocket.
API-sport allows you to test the service without investments and gradually scale the project as needed.
17. Number of requests per minute/hour
Goal.com API imposes strict limits on the number of requests, making it difficult to use in large projects and services with live updates.
API-sport offers a flexible limit system:
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Restrictions depend on the chosen tariff.
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The ability to scale the project without interruptions and delays.
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Support for a large number of simultaneous requests, which is especially important for betting platforms, analytical services, and applications with live data.
This makes API-sport a more convenient and reliable solution for developers who need constant and fast access to sports information.
API Integration
Connection examples
Python:
import requests
url = «https://api.api-sport.ru/v1/football/matches»
headers = {«x-api-key»: «YOUR_API_KEY»}
response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
data = response.json()
print(data)
JavaScript:
fetch(«https://api.api-sport.ru/v1/football/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: via REST API plugins or custom widgets.
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Android/iOS: via SDK and direct HTTP requests.
Using live data via WebSocket
Live data via WebSocket allows you to receive events instantly, unlike polling requests. This is critical for real-time betting and operational statistics.
Where is it used?
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Betting and odds scanners: calculating bets and monitoring chances.
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Sports analytics and predictions: analysis of statistics and transfers.
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Media and fan applications: publication of news and match centers.
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Fantasy Sports and esports: updating lineups and events in real time.
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BI systems and Big Data projects: integration of historical and live data.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of API-sport:
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Wide coverage of sports.
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High speed of information updates.
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Data accuracy and support for live matches.
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Simple integration and convenient formats.
Cons:
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PRO tariffs can be expensive.
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Basic technical training is required for connection.
Goal.com API is limited to football and offers fewer opportunities for large-scale projects and analytics.
API alternatives
Among competitors, several popular services stand out. SportRadar offers a very wide data coverage and reliability, but its high cost makes it accessible only for large projects. RapidAPI acts as a convenient aggregator of many APIs, however, the data update speed here is limited, which can be critical for live applications. The Odds API is more focused on odds and arbitrage, providing less information about teams and match statistics. In the end, if comprehensive coverage of sports, operational live data, and simple integration into applications are important, API-sport it clearly outperforms competitors.
In summary
Goal.com API is useful for basic information about football, matches, and transfers, but its capabilities are limited. API-sport provides a wide coverage of sports, live data, player and team statistics, match and transfer history, as well as convenient integration into applications and CMS.
Registration: https://app.api-sport.ru/register
Our TG channel with updates: https://t.me/apisportru
By using API-sport, developers, analysts, and betting platforms gain a powerful tool for working with current sports data.
FAQ
Is there free access to API-sport?
Yes, there is a trial tariff with a limited number of requests.
What sports are supported?
Football, hockey, basketball, tennis, esports, and over 40 disciplines.
Is the API suitable for betting?
Yes, API-sport provides live results and odds for calculating bets.
How to connect the API to the application?
Through REST requests, WebSocket, or SDK for mobile platforms.
Can the API be used for predictions?
Yes, data on statistics, transfers, and past matches is suitable for analytics and predictions.
Is there a limit on the number of requests?
Yes, the limits depend on the chosen tariff, but they are flexible and suitable for scalable projects.
