(7 June 2006 8:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Soccer fans in the US can hear live radio broadcasts of the 2006 Fifa World Cup tournament in English and Spanish on XM Satellite Radio.

The event kicks off on Friday, 9 June in Germany.

XM will kick off its World Cup play-by-play coverage live with broadcasts of the opening match, Germany versus Costa Rica. XM is the exclusive English radio broadcaster (satellite
or terrestrial) of the World Cup in the US, as well as the only radio service to offer fans live play-by-play coverage in both English and Spanish.

XM will feature 31 days of 24-hour coverage of the World Cup, including English broadcasts of 56 live matches and Spanish broadcasts of 50 live games, as well as news updates, analysis and commentary.

XM will broadcast World Cup matches in English on its dedicated Fifa World Cup Soccer channel (XM Channel 148) from 9 June to 9 July. XM's broadcast team includes former US World Cup team players Jeff Agoos, Thomas Dooley and Christopher Sullivan

XM is now broadcasting pre-match coverage, including call-in shows, interviews and specials, 24 hours a day on XM channels 147 and 148.