| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Teams | 17 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | D.C. United (1st title) |
| Runner-up | Rochester Rhinos |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 15 |
| Goals scored | 56 (3.73 per match) |
The 1996 United States Open Cup was the 83rd edition of the tournament, and the first Open Cup to include Major League Soccer teams.
D.C. United defeated the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3–0 in the final at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Originally, four of the ten MLS teams entered the tournament. Five ended up participating, as D.C. United replaced the Los Angeles Galaxy (due to the Galaxy's congested schedule), and the Colorado Rapids replaced the Colorado Foxes (when the team could not reschedule its third-round match against Kansas City). The A-League Rochester side beat two MLS teams en route to the final before falling to already-crowned MLS Cup champion United.
Bracket
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||
First Round
| June 28, 1996 | San Jose Oaks (USASA) | 3–2 | California Jaguars (USISL) |
| June 30, 1996 | Fort Myers Manatees (USISL) | 6–0 | St. Petersburg Kickers (USISL) |
| July 3, 1996 | Carolina Dynamo (USISL) | 5–0 | Mo's Sport Shop (USASA) | |
|
Report |
| July 4, 1996 | El Paso Patriots (USISL) | 3–0 | RWB Adria (USASA) |
Second Round
| July 30, 1996 | New York Fever (A-League) | 0–1 | Carolina Dynamo (USISL) | Valhalla, New York |
| Report |
|
| July 31, 1996 | Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League) | 2–0 | Fort Myers Manatees (USISL) | Rochester, New York |
| Report | Stadium: Frontier Field Attendance: 6,149 |
| August 4, 1996 | San Jose Oaks (USASA) | 0–1 | Seattle Sounders (A-League) | San Jose, California |
| Report |
| August 4, 1996 | 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 |
Quarterfinals
| 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.
| Dallas Burn (MLS) | 3–2 | Seattle Sounders (A-L) |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Semifinals
| Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-L) | 3–0 | Colorado Rapids (MLS) |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Dallas Burn (MLS) | 0–2 | D.C. United (MLS) |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Final
          D.C. United
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     Rochester Raging Rhinos
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