Nobody sensible writes an FBref alternative page claiming to out-archive it: FBref is the football reference. Our own record is public: on 11 Nov 2026 it showed a mean calibration error of ±0.1% across 6,597,384 graded predictions (all-time; all markets, player markets included). This page asks a narrower question instead: what does FBref not do, from forecasts to an open player rating, and where do you go for each?
The Rubric: Four Checks for Every Site
Each site is scored Yes or No on four published criteria, TACTIX on the same terms. A site passes a check when it:
- Accuracy reporting: publishes how its forecasts turned out, as an aggregated graded record with the losing calls kept in.
- Methodology disclosure: writes up how its numbers are made, beyond a one-line summary.
- Sample size: states how many graded predictions stand behind each record figure.
- Data access: lets you download that graded record (CSV, JSON or an API).
| Site | Accuracy reporting | Methodology disclosure | Sample size | Data access | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forebet | No public record found — earlier predictions stay visible, no aggregated record | No — summarised as mathematical modelling | No public record found | No public record found | forebet.com, checked 3 October 2026 |
| Statarea | No public record found — monthly user-tip rankings, no site-wide record | No public record found — per-match percentages shown, no method write-up | No public record found | No public record found | statarea.com, checked 3 October 2026 |
| FootyStats | No public record found — not its category | Yes — statistics definitions documented | No public record found — not its category | No public record found — not its category (statistics downloads and an API) | footystats.org, checked 3 October 2026 |
| SofaScore | No public record found — not its category | No — ratings described at a high level | No public record found — not its category | No public record found — not its category | sofascore.com, checked 3 October 2026 |
| Understat | No public record found — not its category | Yes — model described openly | No public record found — not its category | No public record found — not its category | understat.com, checked 3 October 2026 |
| FBref | No public record found — not its category | Yes — table definitions documented | No public record found — not its category | No public record found — not its category | fbref.com, checked 3 October 2026 |
| TACTIX | Yes — live scoreboard, losing calls included | Yes — methodology published | Yes — beside every figure (the tier table below) | Yes — the record downloads as CSV or JSON | tactix.football/methodology |
Our Record by Confidence Tier
TACTIX Gold picks (the model rated the outcome 90% or more) landed in 95% of 701,288 graded predictions on the TACTIX record, all markets (as of 11 Nov 2026).
| Tier | Model rating | Graded predictions | Landed | Hit rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 90% or more | 701,288 | 668,528 | 95% |
| Silver | 80% or more | 1,099,982 | 1,008,656 | 92% |
| Bronze | 70% or more | 1,444,997 | 1,266,895 | 88% |
What FBref Does Well
Scale and structure. Its own pages (as of October 2026) describe 100+ men's and women's club and national team competitions, 47 countries, 145 competitions, more than 5,400 squads and over 209,000 players. Every table is consistent with every other, which is what makes it a reference rather than a collection. One date matters: its advanced statistics, Opta xG included, stopped updating in January 2026 after its data supply changed (source), so its Opta expected goals stop at that point; the history before it is all still there.
Where It Stops
FBref records the past. It does not publish match probabilities, odds or picks, and it does not grade a forecast because it does not make one. It publishes player statistics but not a single open rating you can argue with — the per-90 numbers are yours to weigh. And its discovery tools sit behind a subscription, Stathead FBref.
Alternatives, by Job
For reading xG in the biggest leagues with shot maps, Understat is the specialist (see our Understat alternative page). For live match data across hundreds of competitions and a rating per player per match, Sofascore. For a forecast — a probability per market and a record to audit — a calibrated prediction platform.
TACTIX — The Forecast and the Open Rating
TACTIX is our platform and it is not an archive. It is where team and player data becomes a calibrated probability per market for every fixture across 100+ competitions. The method is written up in public; every fixture carries a free pick with a Gold, Silver or Bronze confidence grade; and the whole record is graded on the scoreboard, losers included. On 11 Nov 2026 that record showed a mean calibration error of ±0.1% across 6,597,384 graded predictions (all-time; all markets, player markets included).
Two things an FBref reader may find useful. TACTIX Impact is an open player rating: every weight — points per goal, assist, tackle, save, card — is published as JSON, so the rating can be recomputed and disputed rather than taken on trust. And the open-data page lists everything TACTIX publishes as data, including per-league expected-points tables with a CSV download.
How to Choose
Use FBref for what happened, in depth. Use a calibrated model for what is likely to happen next — and judge it on its published record, not its adjectives.
FBref Alternative — FAQs
What does FBref cover?
Its own pages (as of October 2026) advertise 100+ men's and women's club and national team competitions — 47 countries, 145 competitions, 5,418 squads and over 209,000 players. Its advanced statistics, Opta expected goals included, stopped updating in January 2026 after its data supply changed; the history before that is still there.
Does FBref make predictions?
No predictions or odds were mentioned on the pages we checked. FBref is a reference: it records what happened, in depth, and leaves forecasting to you.
Is FBref free?
The core tables were free to browse when we checked; a subscription product, Stathead FBref, is offered for its database discovery tools with the first month free. We link to FBref rather than quote prices that could go stale.
Is TACTIX an FBref alternative?
Not for the archive. TACTIX is the other half — a calibrated forecast per fixture, an open player rating with every weight published, and expected-points tables you can download. If you use FBref to understand players and teams, TACTIX is where that understanding meets a probability and a public record.
More From TACTIX
- How accurate is TACTIX? The graded record
- Live model scoreboard — the full calibration record, losing calls included
- Open data — every dataset TACTIX publishes, with downloads
- Football predictions today — every fixture in the UK day with the free pick
- TACTIX Impact — the open player rating
- Understat alternative
- Football analytics glossary
18+. TACTIX guides and comparisons are model-informed analysis — not betting advice or guarantees. Please gamble responsibly — support at BeGambleAware.org.
This post is generated from TACTIX’s match data by our software and checked automatically. How it works →
See today’s free slate
Free, every day: the model’s fixed slate of picks, each with its confidence tier and that tier’s settled record — plus yesterday’s slate, graded. Pro adds the full board, the value edge and the written analysis. No payment card.
Create free account