PHILADELPHIA -- Owners on Thursday unanimously voted to extend the term of baseball commissioner Bud Selig for three years through 2009.

Selig took over as acting commissioner in September 1992 after Fay Vincent resigned. Selig agreed to a five-year contract in July 1998 and then received a new five-year deal in November 2001.

Selig, 70, had previously indicated that he was set to retire when his contract expired on Dec. 31, 2006, but changed his mind after much coaxing by the owners.

Selig has yet to announce a decision regarding the Montreal Expos. Major League Baseball has been running the franchise since 2002 and has been trying to find it a permanent home.

The owners, who are wrapping up two days of meetings in Philadelphia, also approved starting a baseball World Cup as well as a baseball television network. The World Cup, which still needs approval from the players association and the International Baseball Federation, most likely would not begin until at least 2006.