L.A. FANS SLEEPLESS OVER SOCCER.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

ENCINO - Lucy Mencos hasn't slept for days. She's so tired from watching World Cup Soccer on late night television, she can't even remember which countries competed a couple days ago.

But it doesn't matter.

``I don't even understand the game,'' the Los Angeles woman said matter- of-factly in Spanish as she sat under an umbrella Saturday morning to watch her son play the game at Balboa Park in Encino. ``I just love soccer. I love it.''

While Los Angeles Lakers fever ran high this past week - the team's phenomenal three-peat now entered in sports history books - World Cup soccer mania, which hits once every four years, is taking its global grip on men and women, young and old.

So deep is the passion for futbol that for two weeks now soccer fans like Mencos have forsaken sleep to watch the late night and early morning live broadcasts of the matches from Korea and Japan.

Tonight's televised game between Mexico and the United States - starting at 11:30 - is this year's grudge match of the tournament. Though both teams have played each other several times before, neither have met at any World Cup event. Both teams are vying for a spot in the quarterfinals to play against Germany.

For some Mexican-Americans, the U.S-Mexico matchup is a true test of loyalty.

Across the streets of Los Angeles, along with L.A. Lakers flags flying from cars, Mexico's colors flap just as proudly.

At Balboa Park where a youth soccer team from Hollywood practiced kicks and passes on Saturday, 17-year-old Martin Leyva was one of a few in the group rooting for Mexico, his homeland.

``They're playing really good,'' he said. ``They haven't lost yet.'' Most of his teammates, who are mainly Guatemalan-Americans, said given the choice they want to see the U.S. win.

``They may as well buy a ticket home right now... 'cause they're gonna lose,'' Martin's teammates hooted.

But others believe that if the Americans win, soccer will make more of an impact in the United States, where it still remains somewhat invisible on national television.

``So what if Mexico wins,'' said soccer coach Sergio Lopez in Spanish. ``Mexico is there, and we are here. I'm hoping the United States wins because that way, it will gain more attention.''

Lopez said the last time soccer sparked local interest was during the 1996 Summer Olympics, when the U.S. women's team won the Gold Medal.

But he added that the interest needs to filter down into youth programs, where for many children, playing on a soccer team is a good alternative to gangs.

But despite the sport's generally low visibility in prime time, soccer memorabilia is selling fast as fans scoop up their favorite finds.

In Van Nuys, vendor Lenny Stanley still sells Lakers T-shirts and flags at his booth on the corner of Sepulveda and Roscoe boulevards, but he said he's been selling three times the number of specialty World Cup soccer balls and flags from the 32 countries the teams represent.

So far, flags from Brazil, Italy and Mexico have sold out, he said.

``The fans are really enthusiastic even though the game isn't being played here,'' Stanley said. ``People have been talking to me more about soccer than the Lakers, and it's a more diverse group.''

Customer Rafael Dominguez paused by Stanley's booth for a moment, checking out the U.S. flags. He said he needed a new one to compliment the flag he has of his second favorite team, Brazil.

``If either Mexico or the United States wins, then it will be good,'' Dominguez said. ``But I want the United States to win, because this is my country now, and this is the country of my children.''

Dominguez said among Latinos, soccer is not only a passion, but a part of the culture.

``Even when things are bad in our countries, we always have soccer,'' he said.

As for the early hours he spends watching television, he says he works in the late afternoons so he doesn't have to wake up early in the morning.

But the televised soccer schedules are beginning to wear him out.

``I haven't slept for two weeks,'' he said. ``My God, I'm tired.''

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Brothers Eddi, left, and Paul Stanley say World Cup soccer memorabilia is outstripping Lakers' goods by 3 to 1 at their Sepulveda and Roscoe boulevard stand this past week.

(2 -- color) Soccer mom Lucy Mencos says she has been staying up late to watch the World Cup matches on television and is worn out.

(3 -- color) Martin Leyva, center, is rooting for Mexico in today's matchup against the United States in World Cup play.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News