Commissioner Bud Selig’s three-year contract extension, the start of a baseball television network and a World Cup tournament are likely to gain overwhelming approval from owners this week, while a decision on the future home of the Montreal Expos is put off.

Owners are being asked to approve an extension through 2009 for Selig, who has been in charge of baseball since September 1992.

The vote is expected to take place Thursday during the final meeting of the two-day session in Philadelphia, and it probably will be unanimous.

While no date is being set for the start of the World Cup tournament, most baseball officials have said in recent weeks that they were targeting March 2006 rather than next year for the tournament, which would have 16 teams. If it launches then, the second tournament would remain in 2009.