Mexico ended a 20-year absence from the World Championship in 2002 and returned to the tournament in 2006. They finished 21st on both occasions. In their last appearance eight years ago, they failed to win a set in any of their five matches. They also lost all their games in 2002, but did win two sets in their penultimate game against the Czech Republic. Their best finish was 10th when they hosted the World Championship in 1974.

The Central American team were one of the dominant forces of the NORCECA region from the 1950s through to the 1970s. They won gold on their Pan American Games debut in 1955, and followed that by claiming bronze in 1963, 1971 and 1975. It was a similar story at the NORCECA Championship with triumphs in 1969 and 1971, followed by bronze medals in 1975, 1979 and 1981. When they welcomed the world's elite teams at the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games they finished seventh.

Mexico will arrive in Italy with confidence following their debut in the World Grand Prix this year, when they finished sixth in Group 3, before claiming eighth in the 2014 Pan American Cup. They will hope that enthusiasm will carry them through a tough Pool C, where they have been drawn alongside neighbours the United States, Russia, Thailand, the Netherlands and Kazakhstan.