FBref Is Gone: 5 Best Football Stats Alternatives for Sports Bettors
FBref was one of the most widely used free resources for advanced football data, particularly among sports bettors and analysts.
For years, it provided public access to metrics such as expected goals (xG), expected assists (xA), defensive actions and long-term historical match logs across major leagues and competitions. On Monday, that data was removed from public access.
For sports bettors who relied on FBref for research and analysis, this has created a clear gap.
Below are the five best alternatives to FBref for sports bettors, ranked by accessibility, usefulness and relevance.
Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya balances the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Liverpool in London, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
The 5 Best FBref Alternatives for Sports Bettors in 2026
All of the platforms below remain free to use and publicly accessible, although none offer the same depth and historical coverage that FBref once provided.
1. FotMob
Best overall alternative for everyday betting analysis
FotMob is currently the most practical replacement for FBref for most sports bettors. It offers team and player statistics, match breakdowns and league-wide data in a clear and accessible format, with strong coverage of competitions such as the Premier League.
- Best for: Pre-match research and form analysis
- Cost: Free
- Limitations: Less historical depth and fewer advanced metrics
2. SofaScore
Best for matchday and multi-game betting
SofaScore provides broad match and player statistics alongside clear visualisations, making it useful for bettors tracking multiple fixtures or in-play markets.
- Best for: Matchday and in-play context
- Cost: Free
- Limitations: Limited tools for long-term or custom analysis
3. Understat
Best for expected goals and underlying performance
Understat remains one of the strongest public sources for expected goals and shot-based data. Bettors who focus on underlying performance rather than results continue to rely heavily on it.
- Best for: xG-driven betting strategies
- Cost: Free
- Limitations: Narrower scope and league coverage
4. WhoScored
Best for general team and player statistics
WhoScored provides a wide range of team and player data across major leagues and remains a familiar option for many bettors.
- Best for: Broad statistical analysis
- Cost: Free
- Limitations: Less flexibility and fewer advanced metrics
5. Transfermarkt
Best for squad and availability context
Transfermarkt is not an analytics platform, but it remains useful for understanding squad depth, transfers and player availability, all of which can influence betting markets.
- Best for: Squad context and market insight
- Cost: Free
- Limitations: Minimal performance analytics
Why FBref’s Data Was Removed
The removal of FBref’s advanced football data followed changes in how official football data is licensed and distributed. In Monday, FIFA announced that Stats Perform had been selected as its exclusive worldwide betting data and betting streaming rights distributor, covering major competitions including the 2026 World Cup. This agreement centralised official football betting data under a single licensed provider.
FBref relied on Opta data, which is part of Stats Perform. Following changes to licensing arrangements, that data could no longer be made publicly available in the same way. Sports Reference later confirmed that FBref’s data availability had changed as part of an update to how FBref and Stathead data is accessed and distributed. As a result, advanced analytics and historical datasets were removed from public access on FBref.
How Bettors Should Adapt
The most effective approach is to combine tools based on use case:
- FotMob or SofaScore for match and league context
- Understat for expected goals and underlying performance
- WhoScored for player and team trends
- Transfermarkt for squad and availability context
This approach requires more effort than relying on a single site, but it still allows bettors to build informed, data-led views without depending solely on bookmaker narratives or official feeds.
