Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics
| Football at the Games of the XXVI Olympiad | |||||||||
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 Football pictogram for the 1996 Summer Olympics | |||||||||
| Event details | |||||||||
| Games | 1996 Summer Olympics | ||||||||
| Host country | United States | ||||||||
| Dates | July 20 – August 3, 1996 | ||||||||
| Venues | 5 (in 5 host cities) | ||||||||
| Competitors | 388 from 21 nations | ||||||||
| Men's tournament | |||||||||
| Teams | 16 (from 6 confederations) | ||||||||
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| Women's tournament | |||||||||
| Teams | 8 (from 4 confederations) | ||||||||
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| Editions | |||||||||
← 1992 2000 → | |||||||||
| Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics | ||
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| Qualification | ||
| men | women | |
| Tournament | ||
| men | women | |
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Football was contested as part of the programme for the 1996 Summer Olympics which was hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, United States from July 20 to August 3, 1996. The women's competition was contested for the first time in Olympic history at these Games.
In the men's tournament, Nigeria defeated Argentina 3–2 in the final. In the women's tournament, the United States defeated China 2–1 in the final.
A number of firsts occurred during the 1996 Games. Alongside the first women's tournament, the games marked the first occasion in which the modern under-23 rules, allowing for the inclusion of three overaged players, were implemented in the men's tournament. Nigeria were the first African country to win gold and only the second African country overall to win a medal of any color in football. The United States were the first country from North America to win gold and together with China were the first countries from Asia and North America to win a medal of any color in football.
Venues
The matches were spread around five venues in east and southeast United States. The gold medal matches were played at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.[1][2]
| Athens | Birmingham | Miami | ||||
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| Sanford Stadium | Legion Field | Orange Bowl | ||||
| Capacity: 86,117 | Capacity: 81,700 | Capacity: 74,476 | ||||
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| Orlando | Washington, D.C. | |||||
| Citrus Bowl | Robert F. Kennedy Stadium | |||||
| Capacity: 65,000 | Capacity: 56,500 | |||||
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Overview
Men's tournament
The 1996 Summer Olympics saw the modification of the under-23 rules for the men's football tournament. Teams were made up of players under the age of 23 with a maximum of three overage players allowed.[3]
In the gold medal match, Nigeria defeated Argentina 3–2.[1] In doing so, they became the first African country to win a gold medal in football, four years after Ghana became the first African team to win a medal of any colour.[3] Brazil won bronze after a 5–0 win over Portugal.[1]
Women's tournament
In the inaugural women's tournament, the United States won the gold medal after defeating China in the final.[2] Despite football having been part of the Olympics since 1908, only teams from Europe and South America had won medals. As a result, the United States and China were the first countries from North America and Asia respectively to win medals in football.[3] Norway won bronze after defeating Brazil 2–0.[2]
Medal winners
Men
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's football |  NigeriaEmmanuel Babayaro Celestine Babayaro Taribo West Nwankwo Kanu Uche Okechukwu Emmanuel Amunike Tijani Babangida Wilson Oruma Teslim Fatusi Jay-Jay Okocha Victor Ikpeba Abiodun Obafemi Garba Lawal Daniel Amokachi Sunday Oliseh Kingsley Obiekwu Mobi Oparaku Dosu Joseph |
.svg.png){kind=small} ArgentinaCarlos Bossio Roberto Ayala José Chamot Javier Zanetti Matías Almeyda Roberto Sensini Claudio López Diego Simeone Hernán Crespo Ariel Ortega Hugo Morales Pablo Cavallero Héctor Pineda Pablo Paz Christian Bassedas Gustavo López Marcelo Delgado Marcelo Gallardo |
 BrazilDida Zé María Aldair Ronaldo Guiaro Flávio Conceição Roberto Carlos Bebeto Amaral Ronaldo Rivaldo Sávio Danrlei Narciso André Luiz Zé Elias Marcelinho Luizão Juninho |
Women
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's football |  United StatesBriana Scurry Mary Harvey Cindy Parlow Carla Overbeck Tiffany Roberts Brandi Chastain Staci Wilson Shannon MacMillan Mia Hamm Michelle Akers Julie Foudy Carin Gabarra Kristine Lilly Joy Fawcett Tisha Venturini Tiffeny Milbrett Amanda Cromwell Thori Staples Bryan Saskia Webber |
 ChinaZhong Honglian Wang Liping Fan Yunjie Yu Hongqi Xie Huilin Zhao Lihong Wei Haiying Shui Qingxia Sun Wen Liu Ailing Sun Qingmei Wen Lirong Liu Ying Chen Yufeng Shi Guihong Gao Hong Zhang Yan Niu Lijie |
 NorwayBente Nordby Agnete Carlsen Gro Espeseth Nina Nymark Andersen Merete Myklebust Hege Riise Anne Nymark Andersen Heidi Støre Marianne Pettersen Linda Medalen Brit Sandaune Reidun Seth Tina Svensson Tone Haugen Trine Tangeraas Ann Kristin Aarønes Tone Gunn Frustøl Kjersti Thun Ingrid Sternhoff |
Match officials
FIFA named 16 referees and 16 assistant referees to be shared between the men's and women's tournaments.[4][5]
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External links
- Olympic Football Tournaments Atlanta 1996 – Men, FIFA.com
- Olympic Football Tournaments Atlanta 1996 – Women, FIFA.com
References
- ^ a b c Stokkermans, Karel (November 21, 1999). "Games of the XXVI. Olympiad Football Tournament". RSSSF. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ a b c Stokkermans, Karel (February 19, 2020). "Games of the XXVI. Olympiad Women Football Tournament". RSSSF. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ a b c Aarhus, Lars (August 29, 2024). "Football Tournament of the Olympic Games - Overview". RSSSF. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ "Olympic Games 1996 » Referees". World Football. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
- ^ "Women Olympic Games 1996 Atlanta » Referees". World Football. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
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