Mexico City, Mexico, June 2, 2016 - Two sides with quite a different level of Olympic experience, Chile and Tunisia, will open the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Mexico City on Friday.
Head-to-head
• Chile and Tunisia met once at a world level tournament. At the 1991 World Cup, Tunisia beat Chile in straight sets in the group stage.
• For Tunisia, that win was their last victory over a South American team at world level.
• Tunisia most recently lost against Venezuela (3-2) and Argentina (3-0) at the 2015 World Cup.
• Chile also lost their other match against an African side at the 1991 World Cup, 3-2 against Algeria.
• Chile won both of their world championships matches against African teams: 3-0 and 3-1 against Libya in 1982.
Chile
• Chile could become the fourth South American side to play in the Olympic Games, after Brazil, Venezuela and neighbours Argentina.
• Last year, Chile finished in third place in the South American Qualification tournament for the Rio 2016 Games after a thrilling five-setter against Colombia (34-36, 25-20, 25-18, 28-30, 15-10).
• Chile's last medal at the South American Championship came in 1993 (bronze).
Tunisia
• Tunisia are hoping to participate in their seventh Olympic Games after 1972, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2004 and 2012. Their best result is a ninth place at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.
• The only other African team with multiple appearances at the Olympic Games is Egypt (4, including 2016).
• The last time Tunisia participated in a World Olympic Qualification tournament was in 2000 in Piraeus, Greece. They finished in fourth and last place after losing all three of their meetings.
• Tunisia's last World Olympic Qualification match was a tight five-sets defeat against China.
• Tunisia have won a medal at the African Championship in each of their participations except for 2009
(fifth). They finished second in last year's competition after a 3-0 defeat against Egypt in the final.