Head-to-Head· United States and Iran have met once before in the World League. United States beat Iran in straight sets in the 2014 semifinal.
· Both teams also met in the first round of the 2014 World Championships when Iran proved too strong for United States in five sets.
· Matthew Anderson (USA) and Mir Saeid Marouflakrani (IRI) are teammates at Zenit Kazan.
United States· Defending champions United States will participate in their 18th World League. They have won two gold, one silver and two bronze medals in their previous participations.
· The last team to win back-to-back World League titles was Brazil in 2009 and 2010.
· Since their return to the competition in 2006 they have only twice won their opening match: in 2008 and 2014, their golden campaigns.
· Murphy Troy will celebrate his 26th birthday on the day of the second match from this meet (31 May).
Iran· Iran will compete in their third World League campaign. In 2013 they finished in ninth place and in 2014 they just missed a medal by finishing fourth.
· Iran have won only one of their last six World League matches, a 3-1 win over Brazil.
· They are two sets shy from winning their 50th in the World League.
· Iran started both of their previous World League campaigns with three successive defeats.