Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics was held from 20 July to 3 August 1996 at various locations in the eastern United States (Athens, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; Miami and Orlando, Florida; and Washington, D.C).
The women's football tournament was officially introduced to the Olympic program for the first time in this edition.
Medal Table[]
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Nigeria |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 United States |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 3 |  Argentina |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 China |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 5 |  Brazil |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Norway |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Medalists[]
| Event | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Nigeria Daniel Amokachi Emmanuel Amunike Tijani Babangida Celestine Babayaro Emmanuel Babayaro Joseph Dosu Teslim Fatusi Victor Ikpeba Nwankwo Kanu Garba Lawal Abiodon Obafemi Mobi Obaraku Kingsley Obiekwu Augustine Okocha Sunday Oliseh Wilson Oruma Okechukwu Uche Taribo West |
Argentina Matias Jesus Almeyda Roberto Fabian Ayala Christian Gustavo Bassedas Carlos Gustavo Bossio Pablo Oscar Cavallero Jose Antonio Chamot Hernan Jorge Crespo Marcelo Alejandro Delgado Marcelo Daniel Gallardo Claudio Javier Lopez Gustavo Adrian Lopez Hugo Alberto Morales Arnaldo Ariel Ortega Pablo Ariel Paz Hector Mauricio Pineda Roberto Nestor Sensini Diego Pablo Simeone Javier Adelmar Zanetti |
Brazil Flavio da Conceicao Jose Marcelo Ferreira Rivaldo Victor Borba Ferreira Oswaldo Giroldo Junior Luiz Carlos Goulart Ronaldo Guiaro Danriel de Deus Hinterhloz Ronaldo Luiz Nazario Lima Alexandre da Silva Mariano Jose Elias Moedim Junior Andre Luiz Moreira Jose Roberto Gama Oliveira Savio Bortolini Pimentel Aldair Nascimento Santos Narciso dos Santos Nelson de Jesus Silva Roberto Carlos Silva Marcelo Jose de Souza |
| Women | United States Michelle Akers Brandi Chastain Joy Fawsett Julie Foudy Carin Gabarra Mia Hamm Mary Harvey Kristine Lilly Shannon MacMillan Tiffeny Milbrett Carla Overbeck Cindy Parlow Tiffany Roberts Briana Scurry Tisha Venturini Staci Wilson |
China Chen Yufeng Fan Yunjie Gao Hong Liu Ailing Liu Ying Shi Guihong Shui Qingxia Sun Qingmei Sun Wen Wang Liping Wei Haiying Wen Lirong Xie Huilin Yu Hongqi Zhao Lihong Zhong Honglian |
Norway Ann Kristin Aarones Agnete Carlsen Gro Espeseth Tone Gunn Frustol Tone Haugen Linda Medalen Merene Myklebust Bente Nordby Anne Nymark Andersen Nina Nymark Andersen Marianne Pettersen Hege Riise Brit Sandaune Reidun Seth Tina Svensson Trine Tangeraas |
Statistics[]
- There were 388 total athletes from 20 countries.
- Hanna Ljungberg was the youngest participant with 17 years and 195 days.
- Margarete Maria Pioresan was the oldest participant with 40 years and 213 days.
- No competitors were chosen to be a flag bearer at the opening ceremony.
- 6 nations won a medal, the highest number possible.
- China and Nigeria won their first-ever medal in the sport.
- Argentina won its first medal in the sport since Amsterdam 1928.
- Norway won its first medal in the sport since Berlin 1936.
- Brazil won its first medal in the sport since Seoul 1988.
- United States won its first-ever gold medal in the sport.