United Arab Republic Cup United Arab Republic Cup The United Arab Republic Cup was held only once in 1961 due to the fall of the United Arab Republic, the union of Egypt and Syria and it was played between clubs from the two countries. The competition included 4 teams the winners and the runners-up of the Egypt Cup and the Syrian Cup. The Egypt Cup Winner takes on the Syrian Cup Runner-up in Cairo, while the Syrian Cup Winner takes on the Egypt Cup Runner-up in Damascus. Al Ahly Cairo faced Al-Majd (was known as Al-Ahly Damascus) at Cairo International Stadium. The match ended
United Arab Republic with Syria, favoring instead a federal union. However, Nasser was "more afraid of a Communist takeover" and agreed on a total merger. The increasing strength of the Syrian Communist Party, under the leadership of Khalid Bakdash, worried the Syrian Ba'ath Party, which was suffering from an internal crisis from which prominent members were anxious to find an escape. Syria had had a democratic government since the overthrow of Adib al-Shishakli's military regime in 1954, and popular pressure for Arab unity was reflected in the composition of parliament. When on 11 January 1958 al-Bizri led a Syrian delegation composed of military