Budget travel, automatic tellers and the Internet might be making the world smaller, but the World Cup keeps getting larger. When it began in 1930, there were 13 teams entered. When it was last held in 1994 in the United States, the number of participants had grown to 24, and it is now at 32. Here is a look at the players and teams the world will be talking about for the next five weeks. The teams in each of the eight groups have been listed in order of predicted finish. Only the top two in each group advance to the second round. CHRISHOPHER CLAREY

GROUP A

BRAZIL

CUP RECORD: 49-13-11. Only team to appear in all 15 previous World Cup finals and only four-time champ.

BEST RESULT: Winner in 1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994.

PLAYER YOU MIGHT KNOW: Ronaldo, the best striker and, for many, the best player in the world.

PLAYERS YOU SHOULD KNOW: Roberto Carlos, a fleet left fullback who has a wicked way with a free kick; Cafu, his counterpart at right fullback, and attacking midfielders Rivaldo, Denilson and Giovanni.