Soccer: Fifa work for officials

A trio of New Zealand match officials have been appointed to three Fifa tournaments in the next three months.

Jacqui Stephenson has been named among 19 referees to control matches at the Women's World Cup starting in Germany late next month, Peter O'Leary has been appointed to officiate at the under-20 World Cup in Colombia in July and August, while assistant referee Mark Rule will appear at the under-17 World Cup in Mexico next month.

"The World Cup is the pinnacle and for me this opportunity is the culmination of four years of hard work and a lot of sacrifice," said Stephenson.