The event in Mexico will pose as the penultimate Grand Prix stage before August’s flagship event, with action due to take place at the Polifórum Benito Juárez, a 5,800-seat indoor arena.

Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Odette Giuffrida of Italy will be in action while double Olympic bronze medallist Mayra Aguiar of Brazil makes a timely return to competition.

Giuffrida will compete on the IJF World Judo Tour for the first time since losing to Kosovo's Majlinda Kelmendi in the under-52 kilograms gold medal match at Rio 2016. 

The 22-year-old, who turned down a spot on Italy's Dancing With Stars TV series to compete at the European Championships, finished fifth at the continental event and will start as the favourite in Mexico.

Aguiar, meanwhile, makes her eagerly-awaited return after not competing since Rio 2016.

The Brazilian, who has slipped to 19th in the world due to her absence, is expected to rule the under-78kg category for years to come following the retirement of Kayla Harrison of the United States.

Double European Championships bronze medallist Natalie Powell of Great Britain is the top seed and should prove to be the toughest challenge for Aguiar.

World under-81kg bronze medallist Victor Penalber of Brazil, his compatriot David Moura, the heavyweight world number two, and London 2012 66kg silver medallist Miklós Ungvári of Hungary are also among the 188 judoka from 36 nations who will compete.

Former World Championships silver medallist Jose Armenteros of Cuba won the Pan American Championships in April but has not won an IJF medal since February 2016, when he finished second at the Dusseldorf Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old starts as the number one seed in the under-100kg event as the highest ranked judoka in the field at world number 10.

The event comes after the International Olympic Committee announced the addition of a mixed team judo event to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic programme.

"It is a real pleasure to come for the first time in Cancun for a Grand Prix, I want to thank the Government from Cancun, the Ministry of Sport, the Mexican Judo Federation and everyone here supporting the Grand Prix," said IJF President Marius Vizer.

"It is a great pleasure and an honour to announce that judo's mixed team event will be in Tokyo 2020 Olympics and after as well in the next Olympics.

"I want to thank you for your efforts and dedication, I congratulate all coaches, athletes, the IJF team and Executive Committee and on behalf of the IJF I want to wish you a successful tournament.

"It is very good for Pan American judo to organise a Grand Prix in this region and I wish you all a lot of luck."

Hohhot in China will host the last IJF Grand Prix before the World Judo Championships, with action in Budapest scheduled between August 28 and September 3.

Watch all the latest action on Judo TV.