The 2005 Gold Cup starts Wednesday with a doubleheader at Miami's Orange Bowl. Mexico and the USA, first and second in World Cup qualifying, are several notches above the rest of the Gold Cup field in this ranking of the 12 finalists:

1. MEXICO (Group C). First in the Hexagonal with 13 points in five games, Mexico had 21-game unbeaten streak snapped in the third-place game at the Confederations Cup. Coach Ricardo Lavolpe has brought 13 players from the Confederations Cup team, including striker Jared Borgetti. MLS connection: Juan Pablo Garcia, signed by Chivas USA last Saturday, gets a shot up front.

2. USA (Group B). U.S. coach Bruce Arena is taking the Gold Cup seriously. Eight starters from the most recent World Cup qualifier — a 3-0 win at Panama. Kasey Keller, Steve Cherundolo and DaMarcus Beasley, among others, are skipping preseason camp in Europe for the Gold Cup. The USA is perfect (16-0-0) in group play.

3. GUATEMALA (Group C). The Bicolores, tied for fourth place in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, aren't messing around. Coach Ramon Maradiaga has brought his first team, which includes Guillermo Ramirez of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Carlos Ruiz of FC Dallas.

4. COSTA RICA (Group B). Tico coach Alexandre Guimaraes hopes to improve his team's depth for upcoming qualifiers. The Ticos, third after five games, have brought in 19-year-olds Bryan Ruiz and Randall Brenes and a pair of 21-year-olds Cristian Bolanos and Gabriel Badilla. European-based stars Paulo Wanchope, Winston Parks and Gilberto Martinez are absent.

5. COLOMBIA (Group A). Coach Reinaldo Rueda is under fire for bringing less than full-strength team: –12 first-team players absent — but he says Colombia, tied for fifth place in South America qualifying, can field nearly two full teams. Only three starters — Farid Mondragon and defenders Yulian Anchico and Jair Benitez — were called up from its most recent qualifier. Rueda likes the three U-20 players called in: Abel Aguilar, Fredy Guarin and star Wason Renteria.

6. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (Group A). The Soca Warriors, tied with Guatemala for fourth place in the Hexagonal, hope to continue the improvement they've shown since Dutchman Leo Beenhakker took over in the spring. Stern John will play; Dwight Yorke, now in Australia with FC Sydney, won't.

7. SOUTH AFRICA (Group C). Coach Stuart Baxter called up just six players from the squad that played in World Cup qualifiers in June. The Bafana Bafana's chances of returning to the World Cup finals for a third straight time were compromised by 2-0 loss to Ghana at home. Five uncapped players were included in a threadbare squad.

8. JAMAICA (Group C). Wendell Downswell, who was promoted to head coach after Jamaica failed to qualify for the Hexagonal — has brought a young team he hopes to reach quarterfinals, at the very least. Three MLS players — Khari Stephenson, Tyrone Marshall and Andy Williams — and ex-Fire star Damani Ralph (now in Russia) lead the Reggae Boyz. Teofore Bennett plays for the USL's Virginia Beach Mariners.

9. HONDURAS (Group A). The Gold Cup will be a chance for the Catrachos to restore some pride after their exit last fall from World Cup qualifying. the Chicago Fire's Samuel Caballero and Ivan Guerrero lead Honduras, which hasn't reached as far as the final four since the inaugural Gold Cup tournament in 1991 when it lost to the USA in the final.

10. CUBA (Group B). The Cubans reached the quarterfinals in 2003 with a 2-0 win over Canada, their only win in seven games in three tournaments. They prepared for the 2005 finals with training camps in Argentina and Scandinavia. Two youngsters to watch: Enrique Vidaurrutia and Leonal Duarte.

11. CANADA (Group B). Won the Gold Cup in 2000 but it's been all downhill for the national team program since then. Six players from the defending USL D1 champion Montreal Impact were picked. Players on U.S. teams include U-20 goalie Josh Wagenaar (Hartwick College), Dwayne DeRosario (San Jose Earthquakes) and U.S. youth product Will Johnson (Chicago Fire).

12. PANAMA (Group A). The Canaleros' goal is to reach quarterfinals. Last in the Hexagonal, Panama has called 37-year-old twins Julio Cesar and Jorge Dely Valdes out of retirement. New players were recently dropped for disciplinary problems: striker Jose Garces and goalie Oscar McFarlane.