Winner Sports is Dead. Here are the 3 Best Kodi Sports Addons for 2026.

Last updated on February 8, 2026

If you’ve landed here, you’re probably searching for working alternatives to the Winner Sports Kodi addon in 2026. Let’s be real: the sports addon landscape is constantly shifting, and what worked a couple of years ago is likely broken today. As a Multimedia Engineer with over a decade of Kodi experience, I’ve seen countless addons rise and fall. I can confirm that Winner Sports, and its successor Winner 2, are officially dead. Instead, a new generation of more stable addons has emerged, fully compatible with modern versions like Kodi 21 Omega and the upcoming Kodi 22 Piers.

This definitive guide will walk you through the absolute best options available today for streaming live sports, focusing on stability and security. But before we dive in, a critical piece of advice: streaming sports through unofficial addons can expose you to privacy risks and geo-blocking. To protect your connection and ensure access, I strongly recommend using a rock-solid VPN. It’s the only way to keep your activity private and bypass those frustrating blackout restrictions.

So, What Really Happened to Winner Sports & Winner 2 in 2026?

The lifecycle of a third-party Kodi addon is notoriously volatile. Developers move on, content sources break, and repositories vanish overnight. Winner Sports, once a titan in the community, and its revamped version, Winner 2, have met this exact fate. In my 2026 testing, the addon is plagued with constant connection errors, dead links, and a complete lack of maintenance.

Attempting to install it from old sources will almost certainly result in the dreaded “Failed to install a dependency” error—a classic sign of an abandoned addon. For this reason, instead of trying to revive a ghost, the smart move is to migrate to the alternatives that are currently dominating the Kodi ecosystem.

The Best Kodi Sports Addons for 2026 (That Actually Work)

After a deep dive into the current addon scene, I’ve zeroed in on the three best methods for watching sports on Kodi today. Each has its pros and cons, from ease of use and stream stability to overall legality.

1. Apex Sports: The Reigning Champ

Apex Sports has firmly established itself as one of the most reliable sports addons available. Its interface is clean, focusing exclusively on live events organized by sport and start time. It uses a mix of direct links and P2P sources (via engines like Horus or Acestream), which often results in better stability for high-demand events like the Super Bowl or Premier League matches.

Key Features:

• Fully compatible with Kodi 21 Omega and 22 Piers.
• Frequently updated before major sporting events.
• Includes a dedicated section for game replays.
• To install it, you’ll need to find an updated Kodi addon repository for 2026, as its source has changed. One of the currently active Kodi sources that hosts it is the “Celestial” repository.

https://celestial-repo.github.io/

Remember, to install from a ZIP file or URL, you first need to enable “Unknown Sources” in Kodi’s System settings.

2. DeporteTV: The No-Frills Direct TV Option

If your main goal is to watch soccer on Kodi for free without any fuss, DeporteTV is a solid choice. This addon specializes in live broadcast sports channels from around the world, presenting a simple channel guide instead of an event list. It’s less sophisticated than Apex Sports but is incredibly fast and straightforward.

Its biggest advantage is that it rarely requires complex dependencies, which drastically reduces the chance of errors. Picture quality can vary by channel, but it’s an excellent solution for quick and easy access. It’s often found in addon installers like Kelebek, which handle the installation and updates for you.

3. PVR IPTV Simple Client: The Premium & Stable Route

For those who prioritize maximum stability and HD quality and don’t mind a small investment, the best option isn’t a third-party addon at all—it’s Kodi’s official PVR client. To set up the PVR IPTV Simple Client, you’ll need two items from a paid IPTV provider (which typically cost around $5-$15 per month):

1. A URL for your channel list file (.m3u format).
2. (Optional) A URL for an electronic program guide or EPG (.xmltv format).

Once you enter these URLs into the PVR client’s settings, you’ll have access to hundreds of HD channels directly in Kodi’s “TV” section, with the same rock-solid stability as a traditional cable service. This is, without a doubt, the most robust and legitimate alternative if you use an authorized provider.

How to Fix the Dreaded ‘Dependency Error’ on Kodi

One of the biggest headaches for any Kodi user is the “Failed to install a dependency” error. When trying to fix dependency errors on Kodi 22 (or older versions), the cause is almost always one of two things:

• Outdated Repository: The source you’re installing from doesn’t have the updated scripts the addon needs (like ResolveURL, Horus, etc.).
• Corrupted Install: Your Kodi installation has leftover files from old addons that are causing conflicts.

My go-to solution:

1. Use a Trusted Installer: Addons like Luar or Kelebek act like an app store for Kodi, ensuring that all the necessary dependencies are installed automatically from updated sources.
2. Clear the Cache: Sometimes, simply clearing Kodi’s cache can resolve minor conflicts. You can use a maintenance addon for this task.
3. Start Fresh: If all else fails, backing up your settings and performing a clean install of Kodi is the ultimate fix. For other common issues, check our guide on what to do when Kodi says to ‘Check the log for more information’.

Conclusion: The Future of Sports Streaming on Kodi

While Winner Sports is no longer a viable option in 2026, the Kodi ecosystem continues to provide excellent alternatives for sports fans. The key to success now lies in choosing well-maintained addons like Apex Sports, using management tools like Kelebek, or making the leap to a stable, premium solution with the PVR IPTV Simple Client.

Always remember that your security is paramount. Using a VPN is not optional—it’s a necessity to protect your identity online and ensure a smooth streaming experience without interruptions or geo-blocks. The Kodi landscape will keep evolving, but with the right tools, it remains an incredibly powerful platform for all your digital entertainment.