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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Expansion is coming to Major League Soccer. The only questions facing the leagues board are how many teams, where to locate them and when to bring them into the fold. Commissioner Don Garber told The Associated Press in a wide-ranging interview Monday that the leagues owners plan to discuss expansion "in great detail" during a meeting Wednesday. The MLS will play Italian club AS Roma in its annual All-Star game that night. At the moment, the league is focused on adding a second team in New York. But with David Beckham holding an ownership option and several cities expressing interest in a franchise, the league could shoot past the 20-team mark within the next few years. "The league is going to expand. Its not an if, but a when, and its a how many," Garber said. "Theres lots of interest among many, many different markets, so well get pretty focused on establishing something firmer in the next few months." There was a time when an ownership group could spend less than $10 million on a franchise, but those days are over. Surging attendance, modest but consistent television growth and even the recent success of the U.S. national team have made the MLS a hot property. It cost English club Manchester City and its partner, the New York Yankees, an expansion fee of $100 million to launch New York City FC, which will begin play in 2015. Other cities that have expressed interest in a team, or have lower-tier franchises who want to join MLS, include Atlanta, Sacramento, Orlando and the Twin Cities. Meanwhile, Beckham has been linked to businessman Marcelo Claure, who owns Bolivian team Club Bolivar. The two appear interested in Miami, where Claures wireless company Brightstar Corp. is based, and Beckham has said he plans to reveal his MLS intentions in the next few months. "The overall growth of the sport has been so dramatic over the last number of years by almost any measure," Garber said. "Whether its the league or the national team or the womens game, all the developments are sort of proving the fact that were a soccer nation." Expansion isnt the only issue for Major League Soccer, however. --The leagues TV deals with ESPN, NBC and Univision expire after the 2014 season, and Garber said discussions will begin early this fall on the next round of contracts. ESPN has broadcast MLS games since 2006, while NBC took over for Fox Soccer last season with a package that includes putting the majority of its games on NBC Sports Network. Univision joined up as a Spanish-language broadcaster this season. "Weve very confident we have a strong television property," said Garber, pointing toward overall growth in viewership the past two seasons. "We have great partners and there are many broadcasters that are really bullish on the sport, and I think its a good time to be in the business of selling sports television rights. Theres a lot of energy behind the sport." --Garber said progress on new stadiums for San Jose and D.C. United are good signs for the league, and hes confident a soccer-specific stadium will be built for New England. The Earthquakes broke ground on their new stadium last October and expect to move into it next year. D.C. United announced formal plans for its facility just last week. "Years ago, nobody ever said wed develop stadiums in what I would call the more difficult markets," Garber said, "and over time I think well achieve all our new stadium goals, including in New England. We do look at this as a long-term project." --As MLS continues to mature, Garber said its critical that teams begin to develop youth academies to produce the next generation of stars, rather than rely on aging players from Europe and elsewhere to stir up interest in the league. Garber pointed to Sporting Kansas City, which is hosting this years All-Star game, as an example of one franchise that has already begun to sprout homegrown talent. "There are a lot of paths to achieve our goal of being one of the top leagues in the world in the next 10 years, and its not just the signing of international players," he said. "Its really with the development of the American and Canadian players, and that starts with the development of the youth academics. Here in Kansas City, it certainly has proven to be true." Garber said the U.S. national team, which beat Panama on Sunday to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup, is further evidence that MLS is succeeding in producing the next line of stars. "When I look at their recent success in the Gold Cup, with a core of MLS players, it just proves the point that were right on track," Garber said. "Were developing a broad interest in the sport among fans, but also really doing well on the field. 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Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70.Supercars star Jamie Whincup is out to cement his status as one of the greatest drivers in the history of Australian motorsport.The Holden ace can become just the second man to claim 100 Supercars races with a victory in either race this weekend at the Ipswich Supersprint event.Whincup recorded his 99th career win on the streets of Townsville a fortnight ago to keep his lead in this years championship race.If the six-time Supercars champion can win a race at Queensland Raceway, hell join veteran Craig Lowndes as the only drivers with a century of victories to their name.Lowndes reached the mark last year in his 559th start.Whincup has only started 394 races to get to within one of the ton - a strike rate of 25.12 per cent or one win for every five races hes started across his career.The Red Bull Racing star says getting to the milestone at what is his teams home test track is definitely on his mind.Knowing how hard it is to win one race - to win a huundred - its something very special, he said.ddddddddddddId love to do it here this weekend. Thats the goal. Hopefully, it doesnt take too long.Whincup might, however, need to find some pace before Saturday after finishing 19th in Fridays practice run at Queensland Raceway.Ford star Fabian Coulthard went quickest for the day with a one minute, 09.7061 second lap to finish ahead of Lowndes (1:10.7061) and Fords Chaz Mostert (1:09.8354).Saturdays action begins with a qualifying session from 1.30pm before the 120km race starts at 4.15pm.AUSTRALIAS GREATEST DRIVER? - JAMIE WHINCUPS SUPERCARS CAREER STATS:* Most championships (6)* Holds record for most pole positions in a season (13 in 2013)* Second-most race wins (99)* Equal sixth for most Bathurst 1000 victories (4)* Has a career strike rate of one win from every five starts ' ' '