Head-to-Head· Australia have lost all of their World League meetings with Italy, four in 1999 and one in 2014, and have failed to win a single set in each of their five meetings with Italy.
· Australia lost 3-0 to Italy in the Final Six of 2014 after emerging as winners of Group 2.
· Italy are also unbeaten in their meetings at Olympic Games and World Championships: WCh 1982, OG 2000, OG 2004, OG 2012 and WCh 2014.
Australia· Australia will participate in their third World League after finishing 10th in 1999 and fifth in 2014.
· Australia are drawn in Group 1 after earning promotion by winning the 2014 Final Four. They are the lowest ranked team (13) in this division.
· Australia have won only seven matches in the World League (21 defeats). Only two teams have fewer victories with at least two participations: Egypt (6) and Puerto Rico (2).
Italy· Italy are one of two teams to have been ever present at the World League and will participate for a record equalling 26th time alongside Brazil.
· They have won the World League on eight occasions, one shy from Brazil's record nine gold medals. Italy are eying their first gold medal in the competition since 2000.
· Italy have finished on the podium 15 times of their 25 previous participations (G8-S3-B4). Only Brazil have more silverware (18, G9-S5-B4).
· Italy have won 934 sets in the World League, second-most behind Brazil (1,033).