The U.S. men's national soccer team may be more visible on American TV this weekend, but starting tomorrow, in normally warm, southern Portugal, the U.S. women open a stiffer, more urgent quest.

At 3: 30 p.m. today (chs. 2,7), coach Bruce Arena's men's team wraps up its two-game, 1999 version of the U.S. Cup, an invitational, friendly affair each year, against Mexico at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium, which is expected to contain thousands more Mexican fans than American.

Arena was philosophical about the prospect, telling the Associated Press: "We need to be able to play under all conditions. I think its a good challenge for our team."

The Mexico-U.S. winner gets bragging rights, of course, for a few more months in what has become a competitive, mutually beneficial series.

But with the serious business of World Cup qualifying a year away and nothing of pressing importance at stake, both sides are giving new, younger players valuable international playing time.

The American men opened U.S. Cup play with a 3-1 win over Guatemala at Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum on Thursday night.

Tomorrow, without TV, the U.S. women start serious prepping for this summer's third Women's World Cup. Unlike the men, they have a real challenge -- winning a world-class tournament they, despite being considered the best women's team in the world, have never won in four tries.

Plus, having lost, 2-1, in San Jose, Calif., a few weeks ago to a hastily assembled international all-star team that practiced once, the Americans will be looking to quickly restore the luster to their image in a world setting.

The sixth annual Algarve Cup, named for the region in Portugal where it's being played, stacks up this time in American coach Tony DiCicco's estimation as no less than "the third-most competitive event in the world game for women -- after the World Cup and the Olympics."

That's because the eight-team field includes six Women's World Cup entries, including Norway, the defending world champion and the only side in the world with a winning record against the Americans.

For spice, it was at last year's Algarve that the Norwegians gave the Americans (21-1-2) their only 1998 defeat, a 4-1 thrashing.

"What I respect most about Norway," said veteran U.S. midfielder Michelle Akers, "is not only their physical dimension, but their mentality. Whenever we play them, we are tested in how bad we want to win."

"Algarve has been trouble for us," DiCicco acknowledged, downplaying its significance a bit by observing: "Generally the teams are not at peak performance."

The Americans open tomorrow against World Cup-entry Sweden, then Tuesday will play non-qualifier Finland, which they easily beat twice in the United States recently. A Norway rematch looms Thursday.

Pub Date: 3/13/99