Japan's 'King Kazu' welcomes World Cup expansion

Yokohama FC's Japanese striker Kazuyoshi Miura, oldest footballer to score competitive goal, takes part in a training session in Yokohama, Japan, March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

TOKYO (Reuters) - Kazuyoshi Miura, the oldest goalscorer in Japanese professional football, has welcomed FIFA's decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 2026 and said he still dreamt of playing in the tournament for the first time.

The 50-year-old known as 'King Kazu', who netted 12 goals for Japan on the road to France 1998 but has never played at a World Cup, said an expanded tournament would boost the game's popularity in countries where it was a "minor sport".