Soccer: Confederations Cup live from France

Fans in New Zealand will be able to watch the All Whites in action at next month's Confederations Cup live on Sky Sport .

Sky says it will screen the All Whites' group A games against Japan, Colombia and host nation France.

It will also broadcast the semifinals and the final.

The New Zealanders play their first match against Japan on the opening day of the tournament - June 19 from 4am (NZ time).

They meet Colombia on Saturday, June 21, at 5am, and France on Monday, June 23, from 7am.

All the games will be on Sky Sport 1.

"New Zealand Soccer is delighted that the All Whites are yet again on the world stage," chief executive officer Bill MacGowan said.

"The arrangement between Sky and Fifa [soccer's world governing body] marketing will ensure New Zealand viewers will be able to see soccer at its very best."

It is understood Soccer New Zealand was earlier not willing to pay Sky's demand of about $70,000 to screen the matches live.

* The big game of the national league round this weekend is in Wellington tomorrow when top-of-the-table Central United tackle second-placed Miramar Rangers.

Central have 31 points, one more than Miramar, and both will have a home semifinal in their sights.

The only game in Auckland is at Bill McKinlay Park tomorrow.

East Auckland, third in the competition on 27 points, will play fourth-placed Manawatu.

With a three-point cushion over the visitors, it is an important weekend for the Auckland side.

A win would keep the heat on the two teams above them.

They are without some key figures, notably Paul Bunbury, who is suspended for a week, and Craig Ashton and Graham Green, who are sidelined by injury.

Canterbury United, in fifth also on 24 points, must beat seventh-placed North Shore in Christchurch to keep alive their semifinal ambitions.

Bottom side Tauranga host Napier City Rovers, and the other game is the Dunedin derby - Caversham against Dunedin Technical, eighth against ninth.

* Sweden formally submitted a bid yesterday to host this year's women's World Cup, and Canada asked to stage part of the tournament.

Fifa extended the deadline for proposals through the weekend.

The United States, who gave their proposal to Fifa last week, are confident they will host the 16-nation tournament.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said the Americans were the "frontrunners."

Sweden hosted the 1995 women's World Cup.

Canada's bid was to co-host one first-round group of the tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, if the rest is played in the United States.

The American proposal called for the entire tournament to be played in the United States.

- AGENCIES