| 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 | |
| Squads | ||
| men | women | |
Football was contested as part of the programme for the1996 Summer Olympics which was hosted inAtlanta,Georgia, United States from July 20 to August 3, 1996. It was the 20th edition of the men'sfootball tournament and the first edition of the women's football tournament.
In the men's tournament,Nigeria defeatedArgentina 3-2 in the final. In the women's tournament, theUnited States defeatedChina 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 under-23 rules 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 China were the first country from Asia to win a medal of any color in football.
Although the 1996 Summer Olympics were hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, none of the football matches were played in the city. The matches were spread around five venues in east and southeast United States. The gold medal matches were played atSanford Stadium inAthens, Georgia.[1][2]
| Athens,Georgia | Birmingham, Alabama | Miami,Florida | ||||
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| Sanford Stadium | Legion Field | Orange Bowl | ||||
| Capacity:86,117 | Capacity:81,700 | Capacity:74,476 | ||||
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| Orlando, Florida | Washington, D.C. | |||||
| Citrus Bowl | Robert F. Kennedy Stadium | |||||
| Capacity:65,000 | Capacity:56,500 | |||||
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The 1996 Summer Olympics saw the introduction 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 afterGhana became the first African team to win a medal of any colour.[3] Brazil won bronze after a 5–0 win over Portugal.[1]
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]
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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| Tournaments |
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| Finals |
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| Squads |
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