Reuters Sports Schedule at 0001 GMT on Thursday

(Reissues with FIFA corruption trial item) Reuters sports schedule at 0001 GMT on Thursday:

SOCCER

World Cup qualifying

Intercontinental playoff

Peru v New Zealand (0215)

Peru, New Zealand meet for last World Cup spot

LIMA - Peru host New Zealand at the National Stadium in Lima after the first leg ended 0-0. The winners will qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-PER-NZL/, expect by 0415 GMT/12:15 AM ET, 400 words)

Peru's ex-soccer official accused of threatening witness in U.S. trial

NEW YORK - A U.S. judge on Wednesday ordered that a former Peruvian soccer official on trial for corruption in Brooklyn be put under house arrest after prosecutors said he made a threatening gesture at a prosecution witness. (SOCCER-FIFA/WITNESS (PIX), moved, by Brendan Pierson, 400 words)

Premier League

We will bring you all the latest news as the Premier league returns this weekend kicking off with Arsenal facing north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday in our showpiece game. (SOCCER-ENGLAND-TEAM/ (PIX), expect throughout)

Manchester United release financial results

LONDON - Manchester United release their earnings report for the three months to the end of September, the first quarter of the 2017-18 financial year. (MANCHESTER UNITED-RESULTS/, expect by 1200 GMT/7 AM ET, by Arathy S Nair, Radhika Rukmangadhan)

La Liga

Atletico meet Real in Madrid derby

Atletico Madrid meet bitter city rivals Real Madrid in the first Spanish capital derby at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium but both sides may need to look for inspiration beyond their usual talismen as Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann are in the midst of their worst goalscoring runs with their respective clubs. (SOCCER-SPAIN, expect by 1200 GMT / 7 AM ET, by Richard Martin)

TENNIS

ATP Finals (to 19)

Federer faces Cilic, Zverev takes on Sock

LONDON - Roger Federer, who has already qualified for the ATP Finals semi-finals, faces Marin Cilic who has to win to have any hope of qualifying for the last four. In the evening session world number three Alexander Zverev takes on Jack Sock with the winner of that match in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages. (TENNIS-ATPFINALS/ (PIX), expect by 1600 GMT/11 AM ET, by Martyn Herman, 400 words)

CRICKET

The Ashes

INTERVIEW-Ghost of Mitchell Johnson looms for England

MELBOURNE - Mitchell Starc has the pace, movement and bounce to launch another Mitchell Johnson-style assault on England, former Australia quick Ryan Harris told Reuters (CRICKET-ASHES-AUS/STARC-HARRIS (INTERVIEW, PIX), expect by 0800 GMT / 3 AM ET, by Ian Ransom, 600 words)

India v Sri Lanka, 1st test (to 20)

India begin as overwhelming favourites against Sri Lanka

KOLKATA - India's formidable home form makes them overwhelming favourites when they take on Sri Lanka in the first match of their three-test series at the Eden Gardens. (CRICKET-TEST-IND-LKA/, expect throughout, 400 words)

RUGBY

England press conference

LONDON - Eddie Jones names his team for Saturday's Twickenham test against Australia looking for instant improvement after last week's "grindathon" win over Argentina. (RUGBY-UNION-ENG-AUS/PREVIEW (PIX), expect by 1030 GMT/5:30 AM ET, by Mitch Phillips, 400 words)

We will continue the buildup to all the weekend internationals in Europe with team news, injuries and coverage of news conferences on merit. (RUGBY-UNION-TEAM/, expect throughout)

DOPING

WADA holds news conference

SEOUL - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) holds a news conference after a meeting of the agency's foundation board in Seoul. The meeting will update the board on its 2016 endorsement of recommendations concerning compliance, governance and the laboratory accreditation process. (SPORT-DOPING/WADA (TV), expect by 0900 GMT/5AM ET)

Russian anti-doping authority faces media

MOSCOW - Russia's suspended anti-doping organisation, RUSADA, holds a news conference as WADA decides on its reinstatement. (SPORT-DOPING/RUSSIA-RUSADA (PIX, TV), expect by 0930 GMT/5.30AM ET, by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber)

BASEBALL

Scherzer, Kluber eye Cy Young Awards

Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals is a favourite to win his second consecutive National League Cy Young Award as top pitcher, while Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians is a frontrunner for the American League award. (BASEBALL-MLB-AWARDS/CYYOUNG, expect by 0030 GMT/7:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words

NBA

Streaking Pistons face Bucks, Cavs visit Hornets

The Detroit Pistons put their five-game winning streak on the line when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks while the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Charlotte Hornets in two of the 11 games on the National Basketball Association’s schedule. (BASKETBALL-NBA/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)

NHL

Blackhawks host Rangers, Bruins clash with Ducks

The New York Rangers visit the Chicago Blackhawks while the Boston Bruins try to snap a three-game skid when they visit the Anaheim Ducks in two of the three games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words)

NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS

Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words) (Asia desk editor: Ian Ransom)