WASHINGTON, Dec 4 : FIFA officials on Thursday predicted that the expanded 2026 World Cup would deepen football's global reach on and off the pitch as they looked ahead to a 48-team tournament they say can inspire a new generation of fans and players. Speaking on the eve of the World Cup draw, FIFA chief football officer Jill Ellis said the tournament's legacy would be measured not just in television audiences but in how many newcomers it pulled into the sport. "The power of the World Cup is