| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Teams | 17 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | D.C. United (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Rochester Rhinos |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 15 |
| Goals scored | 56 (3.73 per match) |
The1996 United States Open Cup was the 83rd edition of the tournament, and the firstOpen Cup to includeMajor League Soccer teams.
D.C. United defeated theRochester Raging Rhinos 3–0 in the final atRFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Originally, four of the ten MLS teams entered the tournament. Five ended up participating, as D.C. United replaced theLos Angeles Galaxy (due to the Galaxy's congested schedule), and theColorado Rapids replaced theColorado Foxes (when the team could not reschedule its third-round match againstKansas City). TheA-League Rochester side beat two MLS teams en route to the final before falling to already-crownedMLS Cup champion United.
| Second round | Quarterfinals | Semifinal | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| MLS | Dallas Burn | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| A-L | Seattle Sounders | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| USASA | San Jose Oaks | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| A-L | Seattle Sounders | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| MLS | Dallas Burn | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| MLS | D.C. United | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| MLS | D.C. United | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| USISL | Carolina Dynamo | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| A-L | New York Fever | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| USISL | Carolina Dynamo | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| MLS | D.C. United | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| A-L | Rochester Rhinos | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| A-L | Rochester Rhinos | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| USISL | Fort Myers Manatees | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| A-L | Rochester Rhinos (AET) | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| MLS | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| A-L | Rochester Rhinos | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| MLS | Colorado Rapids | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| MLS | Kansas City Wiz | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| MLS | Colorado Rapids | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| A-L | Colorado Foxes | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| USISL | El Paso Patriots | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| June 28, 1996 (1996-06-28) | San Jose Oaks (USASA) | 3–2 | California Jaguars (USISL) |
| June 30, 1996 (1996-06-30) | Fort Myers Manatees (USISL) | 6–0 | St. Petersburg Kickers (USISL) |
| July 3, 1996 (1996-07-03) | Carolina Dynamo (USISL) | 5–0 | Mo's Sport Shop (USASA) | |
| Report |
| July 4, 1996 (1996-07-04) | El Paso Patriots (USISL) | 3–0 | RWB Adria (USASA) | El Paso, Texas |
| Stadium:Dudley Field |
| July 30, 1996 (1996-07-30) | New York Fever (A-League) | 0–1 | Carolina Dynamo (USISL) | Valhalla, New York |
| Report |
|
| July 31, 1996 (1996-07-31) | Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League) | 2–0 | Fort Myers Manatees (USISL) | Rochester, New York |
| Report | Stadium:Frontier Field Attendance: 6,149 |
| August 4, 1996 (1996-08-04) | San Jose Oaks (USASA) | 0–1 | Seattle Sounders (A-League) | San Jose, California |
| Report |
| August 4, 1996 (1996-08-04) | Colorado Foxes (A-League) | 5–1 | El Paso Patriots (USISL) | Commerce City, Colorado |
| Report |
| Stadium:Mile High Greyhound Park Attendance: 1,623 Referee: Keith Hageman |
| D.C. United (MLS) | 2–0 | Carolina Dynamo (USISL) |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-L) | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS) |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Note: The Colorado Rapids replaced the Colorado Foxes when the team could not reschedule its Quarterfinal match after player availability conflicts due to CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying.
| Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-L) | 3–0 | Colorado Rapids (MLS) |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Dallas Burn (MLS) | 0–2 | D.C. United (MLS) |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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          D.C. United |      Rochester Raging Rhinos
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