World Cup expansion may nourish China's trophy dream

Expanding the soccer World Cup to 48 teams will help China and other emerging nations to realize their dreams of international glory, a top FIFA executive said in Beijing on Thursday.

Despite concerns that the plan, which was approved this year, could dilute the quality of the elite tournament, Fatma Samoura, secretary-general of the governing body, said it will benefit the game's development in China by increasing the country's hopes of hosting and even winning the event.

The expansion "gives all confederations the chance to be part of a longer football festival, and (increases) the possibility of fast-growing nations like China one day hosting and lifting this beautiful trophy," she said, pointing to the golden World Cup trophy on display.