Doha, November 30 (QNA) - The Syrian and Tunisian national teams will launch Group A action of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 on Monday when they meet at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, ahead of the tournament's official opening clash between hosts Qatar and Palestine at Al Bayt Stadium.
The Tunisian team, led by coach Sami Trabelsi, is enjoying an ideal period after qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the seventh time, which will take place next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Tunisia will compete in the Arab Cup with a different lineup from the one that played in their recent friendly against Brazil, which ended in a 1-1 draw, due to the overlap between the Arab Cup and the final preparation stage for the Africa Cup of Nations, which will run from Dec.21, 2025, to Jan. 18, 2026, in Morocco.
Meanwhile, the Syrian team aims to continue its positive results after defeating South Sudan in the qualifiers a few days ago with a 2-0 victory. Syrian's Spanish manager Jos© Lana will work to prepare suitable alternatives, having opted for a squad of young players. 
In terms of head-to-head encounters between Tunisia and Syria, the two teams have faced each other 11 times. Tunisia has won five of those matches, Syria has also won five, and they have drawn once.
In the context of the Arab Cup, Tunisia and Syria have met twice. In the first encounter, Tunisia won 1-0 in the inaugural edition of the tournament held in Lebanon in 1963. Syria avenged that result in the last edition in 2021 at Al Bayt Stadium, winning 2-0. Tunisia's largest victory over Syria came in the 1973 Palestine Cup final in Libya, when they won 4-0. (QNA)