Head-to-Head
• They have met 16 times in the World Grand Prix with each team emerging victorious on eight occasions.
• United States have won five of their last six World Grand Prix meetings. Their last encounter, however, was won by Italy.
• That last World Grand Prix meeting took place in the Final Round in 2013. Italy prevailed in five sets.
• Their last run-in in all major competitions came at last year's world championship. Italy won in straight sets.
United States
• United States participated in 21 of the previous 22 World Grand Prix seasons, only missing out in 1999.
• United States have won the competition five times (1995, 2001, 2010, 2011, 2012) and only Brazil (10 times) have won it more often.
• Last season, Team USA did not make into the Final Round and finished highest (7th) among teams that did not make the grade.
• In each of the previous seven seasons, either Brazil or United States won the trophy.
Italy
• Italy will be making their 17th participation in the World Grand Prix.
• Since 2003, Italy have made a World Grand Prix appearance in each season, except 2009.
• Italy's best finish in the competition is runners-up, which they achieved twice (2004, 2005). They also finished third on four different occasions.
• Last year, Italy came 10th, which equalled their worst finish in the World Grand Prix (also 10th in 2012).