OFFERING a unique look from the USA at the up-and-coming World Cup thisislancashire's sister site USAToday casts an eye over the competition from across the pond...

SEOUL, South Korea -- In the world beyond the 50 states, the world where soccer is a more than a game, even more than a passion, there is no better time than the present.

After four years of anticipation, the World Cup begins here Friday when France meets Senegal.

To put the game's allure in perspective, consider that FIFA expects 41 billion people will watch the World Cup hosted by South Korea and Japan despite the significant time difference between Asia and the large fan bases in Europe and Latin America.

Two billion viewers are expected to watch the championship game June 30. Then consider that the last Super Bowl drew a piddling 132 million worldwide.

"This is the biggest sporting event in the world," U.S. coach Bruce Arena says. "The magnitude is 100 times compared to the Super Bowl.

"Plus, these players are not playing for their team, they're playing for their country, which is completely different from playing for the New England Patriots or the New York Yankees."

Granted, Americans are a little behind the world's curve in their appreciation for the beautiful game.

With that in mind, five story lines to follow for the next month:

Team USA - The Americans finished last in the 1998 Cup, and if they don't at least advance to the second round, it will be a huge disappointment.

"This time around we will show that we have a national team that is competitive with any team in the world," Arena says.

"Not to say we're the class of the French team, but we can put 11 capable players on the field against any team in the world and do well, and to me that's a tremendous statement for soccer in this country."

The USA certainly will have a formidable task against world power Portugal on June 5, South Korea on June 10 and resurgent Poland on June 14.

Argentina vs. England - Mark June 7 on the calendar. The history between these two countries goes much deeper than the Falklands War.

In 1966 England beat Argentina 1-0 in a game full of spitting, fouls and name-calling and went on to win its only World Cup title.

In 1986 Diego Maradona punched in a goal with his hand ("the hand of God" goal) as Argentina beat England 2-1 and eventually won the World Cup.

In 1998 England's David Beckham retaliated after a foul and was sent-off two minutes into the second half; short-handed England lost to Argentina on penalty kicks.

In March, an Argentinean midfielder broke a bone in Beckham's foot during club competition. England's star is expected to be healthy for the epic game.

"Most people would say these are two of the top 10 teams in the world, if not two of the top five teams in the world," Arena says.

"Depending on the outcome of this game, one of these teams may be eliminated from advancing into the second round.

"This is one of the great matchups in World Cup history for an opening round."

Great players - See France's Zinedine Zidane, Senegal's El Hadji Diouf, Paraguay's Jose Luis Chilavert, Brazil's Ronaldo, Argentina's Juan Sebastian Veron, England's Michael Owen and David Beckham, Portugal's Figo and Rui Costa, Germany's Oliver Kahn and Michael Ballack, and Spain's Raul.

Competing, co-hosting countries - This is the first World Cup in Asia and the first hosted by two countries.

Two countries that share a painful past (Japan occupied Korea from 1910-45) and mutual enmity.

"Like England-Argentina, you go from sports to politics," U.S. defender Jeff Agoos says.

Upsets - "The world is shrinking, which is why I think that there will be upsets," Arena says.

"This might be a special World Cup in that regard. Maybe in the end, the powers win, but I think along the way there will be some surprising results.

"The game has truly grown in all parts of the world. The weak countries are not as weak as they once were."

Which leads back to Team USA.

"Frankly, when was the last time we could feel confident that we could get to the second round?" says U.S. goalkeeper Tony Meola, a veteran of three World Cups.

"We always came here hoping. Now we come here expecting to get to the second round."