The sixteenth World Cup kicks off at the Stade de France outside Paris on June 10. Thirty-two teams will take part and 550 million people will tune in worldwide until one is left in triumph on July 12. Over the next seven pages Magill previews the teams and some of the top players and looks back at the history of an often controversial contest. But first, down to the business of football. Ronan O'Neill looks at the increasing commercialisation of the game and asks will this be the last time we'll all watch it for free