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Mexico (Dec. ’95 FIFA ranking: 12) — The Tricolores were pounded recently by Yugoslavia and upset by Slovenia’s U-23s, but do you really believe that when things get serious, Bora’s boys won’t qualify? Azteca Stadium is an imposing place to play. Just ask the United States, which lost 4-0 in the ’93 Gold Cup final.

USA (19) — World Cup qualifying will pose a scheduling nightmare for MLS, but MLS’s credibility will suffer badly if the U.S. doesn’t make it. Storyline: Will guys like Ramos, Harkes, Caligiuri and Wynalda make their third World Cup?

Contenders

Honduras (49) — The new UNCAF champions probably have more talent than any other Central American team, but they suffer from organizational problems. The fact that most of their top players are scattered across Latin America doesn’t help, either.

Trinidad & Tobago (57) — Is this finally the time the Strike Force makes it? T&T has won back-to-back Shell Cup titles by five-goal margins; it triumphed last spring without European-based stars Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa), Russell Latapy (Porto) and Jerren Nixon (FC Zurich).

Canada (65) — Another team dependent on European-based players, including 1995 Canadian Player of the Year Alex Bunbury (Maritimo), Paul Peschisolido (Stoke City), Tomasz Radzinski (Ekeren) and Tom Kouzmanis (now at Greek club Kalamata). Success in Olympic qualifying is critical to the program’s development.

Outsiders

Jamaica (56) — No team has been as serious in upgrading its national team program as Jamaica. New Brazilian coach Rene Simoes has young local stars like Onandi Lowe and Kevin Wilson to call upon, making it difficult for U.S. college stars Wolde Harris (Clemson) and Andrew Williams (Rhode Island) to find a spot in the lineup.

Costa Rica (78) — The Ticos, who beat the U.S. in Tampa over Memorial Day weekend, were a big disappointment at the UNCAF Nations’ Cup. Their failure to qualify for the Gold Cup means heads will roll.

El Salvador (82) — Success of club teams like FAS, Luis Angel Firpo, and Alianza hasn’t been translated to the national team level. The Cuscatlecos will need a decent showing at the Gold Cup for Argentine Jose Omar Pastoriza to keep his job.

Long Shots

Cuba (96) — Didn’t bother to enter ’94 qualifying, but emerged from isolation to finish third at this year’s Shell Cup.

Guatemala (145) — Surprise runner-up at the ’95 UNCAF Nations’ Cup after having not played a full international in almost three years.

No Hopers

St. Vincent & the Grenadines (95) — LIU grad Lenny Taylor has led them to a spot at the Gold Cup. Rodney Jack (Torquay United) is one of the Caribbean’s top strikers.

Barbados (103) — Star is Southern Connecticut all-America Sherwin Mullin.

St. Lucia (114) — Reached final round of the Shell Cup twice in the last three years.

Netherlands Antilles (125) — Has entered every World Cup since 1958.

Surinam (124) — Half of the great Ajax team is of Surinamese descent, but they all play for the Netherlands.

Panama (126) — Quite a team with Paris St. Germain star Julio Cesar Dely Valdes and his brothers, but they rarely get to play together.

Puerto Rico (128) — Won opening game of qualifying for USA ’94 with largely American team. Unlikely to use mainlanders this time around.

Cayman Islands (131) — Another emerging power in the Caribbean: fourth at the ’95 Shell Cup.

Antigua (137) — Has never gotten past first round of qualifying in four attempts.

Bermuda (140) — Late ’98 World Cup entrant. National team program rocked by pot bust involving players on promising under-23 team last year in Miami.

Grenada (141) — Hasn’t entered qualifying since ’82 tournament.

St. Kitts & Nevis (150) — Of the CONCACAF entrants, only the Cayman Islands has a smaller population.

Haiti (153) — Seeded in Caribbean zone on the basis of 1974 appearance in the World Cup finals, but soccer has nosedived since then.

Dominica (158) — Only admitted to FIFA in 1994. Upset St. Vincent & the Grenadines 1-0 away in recent Windward Islands Championship.

Dominican Republic (159) — Baseball is the country’s No. 1 sport.

Guyana (162) — Winless in 11 straight qualifying matches since winning in debut (2-0 over Surinam in 1976).

Aruba (171) — The third of the former Dutch colonies in the CONCACAF qualifying competition.

Belize (173) — Didn’t embarrass itself at the UNCAF Nations’ Cup (3-0 and 2-1 losses to El Salvador and Costa Rica, respectively).

Nicaragua (174) — Hammered by Panama in UNCAF qualifying (7-0 on aggregate).

Bahamas (NR) — Making first appearance in qualifying.