# 1996 Davis Cup

The 1996 Davis Cup (also known as the 1996 Davis Cup by NEC for sponsorship purposes) was the 85th edition of the Davis Cup, the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 124 teams entered the competition, 16 in the World Group, 26 in the Americas Zone, 29 in the Asia/Oceania Zone, and 53 in the Europe/Africa Zone. Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Panama made their first appearances in the tournament.
France defeated the Sweden in the final at the Massan Hall in Malmö.

## World Group

Participating teams :
| Austria | Belgium | Czech Republic | Denmark |
| France | Germany | Hungary | India |
| Italy | Mexico | Netherlands | Russia |
| South Africa | Sweden | Switzerland | United States |

### Draw

| First round 9–11 February | First round 9–11 February | First round 9–11 February | Quarterfinals 5–7 April | Quarterfinals 5–7 April | Quarterfinals 5–7 April | Semifinals 20–22 September | Semifinals 20–22 September | Semifinals 20–22 September | Final 29 November–1 December | Final 29 November–1 December | Final 29 November–1 December |
| Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | | | | | | | | | |
| Russia | Russia | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Russia | Russia | 2 | Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | | | | | | |
| Italy | Italy | 3 | Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | | | | | | |
| Italy | Italy | 3 | Italy | Italy | 4 | | | | | | |
| Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | Italy | Italy | 4 | | | | | | |
| Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | South Africa | South Africa | 1 | | | | | | |
| Austria | Austria | 2 | South Africa | South Africa | 1 | | | | | | |
| Austria | Austria | 2 | | | | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | | | |
| South Africa | South Africa | 3 | | | | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | | | |
| South Africa | South Africa | 3 | | | | Italy | Italy | 2 | | | |
| Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | | | | Italy | Italy | 2 | | | |
| Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | | | | France | France | 3 | | | |
| Germany | Germany | 5 | | | | France | France | 3 | | | |
| Germany | Germany | 5 | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | | | | | | |
| Switzerland | Switzerland | 0 | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | | | | | | |
| Switzerland | Switzerland | 0 | Germany | Germany | 0 | | | | | | |
| Besançon, France (indoor hard) | Besançon, France (indoor hard) | Besançon, France (indoor hard) | Germany | Germany | 0 | | | | | | |
| Besançon, France (indoor hard) | Besançon, France (indoor hard) | Besançon, France (indoor hard) | France | France | 5 | | | | | | |
| France | France | 5 | France | France | 5 | | | | | | |
| France | France | 5 | | | | | | | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) |
| Denmark | Denmark | 0 | | | | | | | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) |
| Denmark | Denmark | 0 | | | | | | | France | France | 3 |
| Jaipur, India (grass) | Jaipur, India (grass) | Jaipur, India (grass) | | | | | | | France | France | 3 |
| Jaipur, India (grass) | Jaipur, India (grass) | Jaipur, India (grass) | | | | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 2 |
| India | India | 3 | | | | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 2 |
| India | India | 3 | Calcutta, India (grass) | Calcutta, India (grass) | Calcutta, India (grass) | | | | | | |
| Netherlands | Netherlands | 2 | Calcutta, India (grass) | Calcutta, India (grass) | Calcutta, India (grass) | | | | | | |
| Netherlands | Netherlands | 2 | India | India | 0 | | | | | | |
| Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | India | India | 0 | | | | | | |
| Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Sweden | Sweden | 5 | | | | | | |
| Belgium | Belgium | 1 | Sweden | Sweden | 5 | | | | | | |
| Belgium | Belgium | 1 | | | | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | |
| Sweden | Sweden | 4 | | | | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | |
| Sweden | Sweden | 4 | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 4 | | | |
| Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 4 | | | |
| Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | | Czech Republic | 1 | |
| Hungary | Hungary | 0 | | | | Czech Republic | 1 | |
| Hungary | Hungary | 0 | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | | | |
| Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 5 | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | | | |
| Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 5 | Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 3 | | | | | |
| Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 3 | | | | | |
| Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | United States | United States | 2 | | | | | |
| Mexico | Mexico | 0 | United States | United States | 2 | | | | | |
| United States | United States | 5 | | | | | | | | |

### Final

Sweden vs. France
| Sweden 2 | Massan Hall, Malmö 29 November – 1 December 1996 Hard (indoors) | Massan Hall, Malmö 29 November – 1 December 1996 Hard (indoors) | France 3 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Stefan Edberg Cédric Pioline 3 6 4 6 3 6       2 Thomas Enqvist Arnaud Boetsch 6 4 6 3 7$^7$ 6$^2$       3 Jonas Björkman / Nicklas Kulti Guy Forget / Guillaume Raoux 3 6 6 1 3 6 3 6     4 Thomas Enqvist Cédric Pioline 3 6 6$^8$ 7$^{10}$ 6 4 6 4 9 7   5 Nicklas Kulti Arnaud Boetsch 6$^2$ 7$^7$ 6 2 6 4 6$^5$ 7$^7$ 8 10 ||||

## World Group qualifying round

Date: 20–22 September
The eight losing teams in the World Group first round ties and eight winners of the Zonal Group I final round ties competed in the World Group qualifying round for spots in the 1997 World Group.
| Home team | Score | Visiting team | Location | Venue | Door | Surface |
| Mexico | 3–2 | Argentina | Mexico City | Club Alemán de México | Outdoor | Hard |
| Croatia | 1–4 | Australia | Split | Teniski klub Split | Outdoor | Clay |
| Brazil | 4–1 | Austria | São Paulo | Hotel Transamérica | Indoor | Carpet |
| Romania | 3–2 | Belgium | Bucharest | Arenele BNR | Outdoor | Clay |
| Spain | 4–1 | Denmark | Tarragona | Club de Tennis Tarragona | Outdoor | Clay |
| Russia | 4–1 | Hungary | Moscow | Olympic Stadium | Indoor | Carpet |
| Switzerland | 5–0 | Morocco | Olten | Olten Hallenstadion | Indoor | Carpet |
| Netherlands | 4–1 | New Zealand | Haarlem | Sportclub Haarlem | Outdoor | Hard |
* Mexico, Netherlands, Russia and Switzerland remain in the World Group in 1997.
* Australia, Brazil, Romania and Spain are promoted to the World Group in 1997.
* Argentina, Croatia, Morocco and New Zealand remain in Zonal Group I in 1997.
* Austria, Belgium, Denmark and Hungary are relegated to Zonal Group I in 1997.

## Americas Zone
### Group I

| Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | | | | | | | | Mar del Plata, Argentina (clay) | Mar del Plata, Argentina (clay) | Mar del Plata, Argentina (clay) |
| | | | | | | Nassau, Bahamas (hard) | Nassau, Bahamas (hard) | Nassau, Bahamas (hard) | Argentina | Argentina | 4 |
| | | | | | | Peru | Peru | 2 | Bahamas | Bahamas | 1 |
| Santiago, Chile (clay) | Santiago, Chile (clay) | Santiago, Chile (clay) | | | | Bahamas | Bahamas | 3 | | | |
| Peru | Peru | 0 | | | | Santiago, Chile (clay) | Santiago, Chile (clay) | Santiago, Chile (clay) | | | |
| Chile | Chile | 5 | | | | Brazil | Brazil | 3 | | | |
| Chile | Chile | 5 | Edmonton, Canada (indoor carpet) | Edmonton, Canada (indoor carpet) | Edmonton, Canada (indoor carpet) | Brazil | Brazil | 3 | Santos, Brazil (clay) | Santos, Brazil (clay) |
| | | | Edmonton, Canada (indoor carpet) | Edmonton, Canada (indoor carpet) | Edmonton, Canada (indoor carpet) | Chile | Chile | 2 | Santos, Brazil (clay) | Santos, Brazil (clay) |
| | | | Chile | Chile | 2 | Chile | Chile | 2 | Brazil | Brazil | 4 |
| | | | Chile | Chile | 2 | Valencia, Venezuela (hard) | Valencia, Venezuela (hard) | Valencia, Venezuela (hard) | Brazil | Brazil | 4 |
| | | | Canada | Canada | 3 | Valencia, Venezuela (hard) | Valencia, Venezuela (hard) | Valencia, Venezuela (hard) | Venezuela | Venezuela | 1 |
| | | | Canada | Canada | 3 | Canada | Canada | 2 | Venezuela | Venezuela | 1 |
| | | | | | | Venezuela | Venezuela | 3 | | |
* Peru relegated to Group II in 1997.
* Argentina and Brazil advance to World Group qualifying round.

### Group II

| Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round |
| | | | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | | | | | | |
| | | | Uruguay | Uruguay | 5 | | | | | | |
| Guatemala City, Guatemala (hard) | Guatemala City, Guatemala (hard) | Guatemala City, Guatemala (hard) | Guatemala | Guatemala | 0 | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | | | |
| Guatemala | Guatemala | 1 | | | | Uruguay | Uruguay | 3 | | | |
| Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico | 4 | Bogotá, Colombia (clay) | Bogotá, Colombia (clay) | Bogotá, Colombia (clay) | Colombia | Colombia | 2 | | | |
| | | | Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | Colombia | Colombia | 5 | | | | Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay) | Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay) | Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay) |
| | | | | | | | | | Uruguay | Uruguay | 1 |
| | | | Havana, Cuba (hard) | Havana, Cuba (hard) | Havana, Cuba (hard) | | | | Ecuador | Ecuador | 4 |
| | | | Cuba | Cuba | 3 | | | | | |
| Asunción, Paraguay (clay) | Asunción, Paraguay (clay) | Asunción, Paraguay (clay) | Paraguay | Paraguay | 2 | Havana, Cuba (hard) | Havana, Cuba (hard) | Havana, Cuba (hard) | | | |
| Paraguay | Paraguay | 5 | | | | Cuba | Cuba | 0 | | | |
| Barbados | Barbados | 0 | Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay) | Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay) | Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay) | Ecuador | Ecuador | 3 | | | |
| | | | Barbados | Barbados | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | Ecuador | Ecuador | 5 | | | | | | |
* Guatemala and Barbados relegated to Group III in 1997.
* Ecuador promoted to Group I in 1997.

### Group III

* Venue: Maya Country Club, San Salvador, El Salvador
* Date: 6–10 March
Group A
| | HAI | DOM | TRI | ATG | CRC | RR W–L | Match W–L | Set W–L | Standings |
| Haiti | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 12–0 (100%) | 24–1 (96%) | 1 |
| Dominican Republic | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 8–4 (67%) | 17–9 (65%) | 2 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 0–3 | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–8 (33%) | 8–19 (30%) | 3 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 1–3 | 5–7 (42%) | 11–16 (41%) | 4 |
| Costa Rica | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | | 0–4 | 1–11 (8%) | 7–22 (24%) | 5 |
Group B
| | ESA | PAN | JAM | BOL | BER | ECA | RR W–L | Match W–L | Set W–L | Standings |
| El Salvador | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–0 | 14–1 (93%) | 28–3 (90%) | 1 |
| Panama | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 9–6 (60%) | 21–14 (60%) | 2 |
| Jamaica | 1–2 | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 8–7 (53%) | 17–17 (50%) | 3 |
| Bolivia | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 8–7 (53%) | 18–15 (55%) | 4 |
| Bermuda | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 1–4 | 3–12 (20%) | 8–27 (23%) | 5 |
| Eastern Caribbean | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 0–5 | 3–12 (20%) | 9–25 (26%) | 6 |
* Haiti and El Salvador promoted to Group II in 1997.
* Costa Rica, Bermuda and Eastern Caribbean assigned to Group IV in 1997.

## Asia/Oceania Zone
### Group I

| Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | | | | | Christchurch, New Zealand (grass) | Christchurch, New Zealand (grass) | Christchurch, New Zealand (grass) | | | |
| | | | | | | New Zealand | New Zealand | 4 | | | |
| | | | Jakarta, Indonesia (clay) | Jakarta, Indonesia (clay) | Jakarta, Indonesia (clay) | China | China | 1 | Seoul, South Korea (clay) | Seoul, South Korea (clay) | Seoul, South Korea (clay) |
| | | | China | China | 5 | | | | New Zealand | New Zealand | 3 |
| | | | Indonesia | Indonesia | 0 | Jakarta, Indonesia (clay) | Jakarta, Indonesia (clay) | Jakarta, Indonesia (clay) | South Korea | South Korea | 2 |
| | | | | | | South Korea | 4 | | | |
| Taipei, Taiwan (hard) | Taipei, Taiwan (hard) | Taipei, Taiwan (hard) | | | | Indonesia | Indonesia | | 1 | | |
| Indonesia | Indonesia | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| Chinese Taipei | Chinese Taipei | 2 | | | | Yokkaichi, Japan (indoor carpet) | Yokkaichi, Japan (indoor carpet) | Yokkaichi, Japan (indoor carpet) | | | |
| | | | | | | Philippines | Philippines | | 0 | | |
| | | | Taichung, Taiwan (clay) | Taichung, Taiwan (clay) | Taichung, Taiwan (clay) | Japan | Japan | 5 | Osaka, Japan (hard) | Osaka, Japan (hard) | Osaka, Japan (hard) |
| | | | Philippines | Philippines | 3 | | | | Japan | Japan | 0 |
| | | | Chinese Taipei | Chinese Taipei | 2 | Melbourne, Australia (indoor hard) | Melbourne, Australia (indoor hard) | Melbourne, Australia (indoor hard) | Australia | Australia | 5 |
| | | | | | | Chinese Taipei | Chinese Taipei | 0 | | | |
| | | | | | | Australia | Australia | 3 | | | |
* Chinese Taipei relegated to Group II in 1997.
* New Zealand and Australia advance to World Group qualifying round.

### Group II

| Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round |
| | | | Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (hard) | Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (hard) | Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (hard) | | | | | | |
| | | | Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 5 | | | | | | |
| Tehran, Iran (clay) | Tehran, Iran (clay) | Tehran, Iran (clay) | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 0 | Bangkok, Thailand (hard) | Bangkok, Thailand (hard) | Bangkok, Thailand (hard) | | | |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 1 | | | | Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 0 | | | |
| Iran | Iran | 4 | Bangkok, Thailand (hard) | Bangkok, Thailand (hard) | Bangkok, Thailand (hard) | Thailand | Thailand | 5 | | | |
| | | | Thailand | Thailand | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | Iran | Iran | 1 | | | | Tashkent, Uzbekistan (clay) | Tashkent, Uzbekistan (clay) | Tashkent, Uzbekistan (clay) |
| | | | | | | | | | Thailand | Thailand | 0 |
| | | | Rawalpindi, Pakistan (clay) | Rawalpindi, Pakistan (clay) | Rawalpindi, Pakistan (clay) | | | | Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan | 5 |
| | | | Pakistan | Pakistan | 5 | | | | | |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (hard) | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (hard) | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (hard) | Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | 0 | Peshawar, Pakistan (grass) | Peshawar, Pakistan (grass) | Peshawar, Pakistan (grass) | | | |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | 3 | | | | Pakistan | Pakistan | 0 | | | |
| Bahrain | Bahrain | 2 | Manama, Bahrain (hard) | Manama, Bahrain (hard) | Manama, Bahrain (hard) | Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan | 5 | | | |
| | | | Bahrain | Bahrain | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan | 5 | | | | | | |
* Sri Lanka and Bahrain relegated to Group III in 1997.
* Uzbekistan promoted to Group I in 1997.

### Group III

* Venue: Aviation Club Tennis Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
* Date: 18–24 March
Group A
| | SIN | MAS | POC | KAZ | SYR | OMA | RR W–L | Match W–L | Set W–L | Standings |
| Singapore | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 11–4 (73%) | 23–10 (70%) | 1 |
| Malaysia | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 7–8 (47%) | 17–19 (47%) | 2 |
| Pacific Oceania | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 8–7 (53%) | 19–16 (54%) | 3 |
| Kazakhstan | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 7–8 (47%) | 18–20 (47%) | 4 |
| Syria | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 2–3 | 8–7 (53%) | 20–17 (54%) | 5 |
| Oman | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | | 0–5 | 4–11 (27%) | 9–24 (27%) | 6 |
Group B
| | LIB | KUW | BAN | QAT | JOR | BRU | UAE | RR W–L | Match W–L | Set W–L | Standings |
| Lebanon | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 17–1 (94%) | 34–1 (97%) | 1 |
| Kuwait | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 14–4 (78%) | 28–6 (82%) | 2 |
| Bangladesh | 0–3 | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 11–7 (61%) | 22–16 (58%) | 3 |
| Qatar | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 11–7 (61%) | 22–15 (59%) | 4 |
| Jordan | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–4 | 7–11 (39%) | 14–22 (39%) | 5 |
| Brunei | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 1–5 | 2–16 (11%) | 4–33 (11%) | 6 |
| United Arab Emirates | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 0–6 | 1–17 (6%) | 3–34 (8%) | 7 |
* Singapore and Lebanon promoted to Group II in 1997.
* Syria, Oman, Jordan, Brunei and United Arab Emirates assigned to Group IV in 1997.

## Europe/Africa Zone
### Group I

| Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | | | | Morocco | Morocco | | | | |
| | | | | | Morocco | Morocco | | Casablanca, Morocco (clay) | Casablanca, Morocco (clay) | Casablanca, Morocco (clay) |
| | | | | | bye | bye | | Casablanca, Morocco (clay) | Casablanca, Morocco (clay) | Casablanca, Morocco (clay) |
| | | | bye | bye | bye | bye | | Morocco | Morocco | 4 |
| | | | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | | | | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 1 |
| | | | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | bye | bye | | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 1 |
| Harare, Zimbabwe (hard) | Harare, Zimbabwe (hard) | Harare, Zimbabwe (hard) | | | bye | bye | | | | |
| Harare, Zimbabwe (hard) | Harare, Zimbabwe (hard) | Harare, Zimbabwe (hard) | | | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | | | | |
| Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 4 | | | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | | | | |
| Finland | Finland | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Finland | Finland | 1 | | | Romania | Romania | | | | |
| | | | | | Romania | Romania | | Helsinki, Finland (indoor carpet) | Helsinki, Finland (indoor carpet) |
| | | | | | bye | bye | | Helsinki, Finland (indoor carpet) | Helsinki, Finland (indoor carpet) |
| | | | bye | bye | bye | bye | | Romania | Romania | 3 |
| | | | Finland | Finland | | | | Finland | Finland | 2 |
| | | | Finland | Finland | bye | bye | | Finland | Finland | 2 |
| | | | | | Finland | Finland | | | |
| | | | | | Ukraine | Ukraine | | | |
| | | | | | Ukraine | Ukraine | | Dubrovnik, Croatia (indoor carpet) | Dubrovnik, Croatia (indoor carpet) | Dubrovnik, Croatia (indoor carpet) |
| | | | | | bye | bye | | Dubrovnik, Croatia (indoor carpet) | Dubrovnik, Croatia (indoor carpet) | Dubrovnik, Croatia (indoor carpet) |
| | | | Ukraine | Ukraine | bye | bye | | Ukraine | Ukraine | 0 |
| | | | bye | bye | | | | Croatia | Croatia | 5 |
| | | | bye | bye | bye | bye | | Croatia | Croatia | 5 |
| Kyiv, Ukraine (clay) | Kyiv, Ukraine (clay) | Kyiv, Ukraine (clay) | | | bye | bye | | | | |
| Kyiv, Ukraine (clay) | Kyiv, Ukraine (clay) | Kyiv, Ukraine (clay) | | | Croatia | Croatia | | | | |
| Ukraine | Ukraine | 4 | | | Croatia | Croatia | | | | |
| Ukraine | Ukraine | 4 | | | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | | | |
| Norway | Norway | 1 | | | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | | | |
| Norway | Norway | 1 | | | Norway | Norway | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | Norway | Norway | 2 | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) |
| | | | | | Israel | Israel | 3 | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) |
| | | | Norway | Norway | Israel | Israel | 3 | Israel | Israel | 1 |
| | | | bye | bye | | | | Spain | Spain | 4 |
| | | | bye | bye | bye | bye | | Spain | Spain | 4 |
| | | | | | Spain | Spain | | | | |
* Finland and Norway relegated to Group II in 1997.
* Morocco, Romania, Croatia, and Spain advance to World Group qualifying round.

### Group II

| Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round |
| | | | Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (ind. carpet) | Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (ind. carpet) | Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (ind. carpet) | | | | | | |
| | | | Slovenia | Slovenia | 1 | | | | | | |
| Novo Mesto, Slovenia (clay) | Novo Mesto, Slovenia (clay) | Novo Mesto, Slovenia (clay) | Slovenia | Slovenia | 1 | Accra, Ghana (hard) | | | | | |
| Novo Mesto, Slovenia (clay) | Novo Mesto, Slovenia (clay) | Novo Mesto, Slovenia (clay) | Great Britain | Great Britain | 4 | Accra, Ghana (hard) | | | | | |
| Slovenia | Slovenia | 5 | Great Britain | Great Britain | 4 | Great Britain | Great Britain | 5 | | | |
| Slovenia | Slovenia | 5 | Accra, Ghana (hard) | Accra, Ghana (hard) | Accra, Ghana (hard) | Great Britain | Great Britain | 5 | | | |
| Malta | Malta | 0 | Accra, Ghana (hard) | Accra, Ghana (hard) | Accra, Ghana (hard) | Ghana | Ghana | 0 | | | |
| Malta | Malta | 0 | Ghana | Ghana | 5 | Ghana | Ghana | 0 | | | |
| | | | Ghana | Ghana | 5 | | | | Wimbledon, United Kingdom (grass) | Wimbledon, United Kingdom (grass) | Wimbledon, United Kingdom (grass) |
| | | | Malta | Malta | 0 | | | | Wimbledon, United Kingdom (grass) | Wimbledon, United Kingdom (grass) | Wimbledon, United Kingdom (grass) |
| | | | Malta | Malta | 0 | | | | Great Britain | Great Britain | 5 |
| | | | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | | | | Great Britain | Great Britain | 5 |
| | | | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | | | | Egypt | Egypt | 0 |
| | | | Egypt | Egypt | 5 | | | | Egypt | Egypt | 0 |
| Skopje, Macedonia (clay) | Skopje, Macedonia (clay) | Skopje, Macedonia (clay) | Egypt | Egypt | 5 | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | | | |
| Skopje, Macedonia (clay) | Skopje, Macedonia (clay) | Skopje, Macedonia (clay) | Macedonia | Macedonia | 0 | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | Cairo, Egypt (clay) | | | |
| Macedonia | Macedonia | 2 | Macedonia | Macedonia | 0 | Egypt | Egypt | 3 | | | |
| Macedonia | Macedonia | 2 | Jūrmala, Latvia (indoor hard) | Jūrmala, Latvia (indoor hard) | Jūrmala, Latvia (indoor hard) | Egypt | Egypt | 3 | | | |
| Latvia | Latvia | 3 | Jūrmala, Latvia (indoor hard) | Jūrmala, Latvia (indoor hard) | Jūrmala, Latvia (indoor hard) | Ivory Coast | Ivory Coast | 2 | | | |
| Latvia | Latvia | 3 | Ivory Coast | Ivory Coast | 3 | Ivory Coast | Ivory Coast | 2 | | | |
| | | | Latvia | Latvia | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | Warsaw, Poland (clay) | Warsaw, Poland (clay) | Warsaw, Poland (clay) | | | | | | |
| | | | Poland | Poland | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | Poland | Poland | 4 | Poznań, Poland (clay) | | | | | |
| | | | Nigeria | Nigeria | 1 | Poznań, Poland (clay) | | | | | |
| Nigeria | Nigeria | w/o | Nigeria | Nigeria | 1 | Poland | Poland | 4 | | | |
| Nigeria | Nigeria | w/o | Esch-sur-Alzette, Lux. (indoor carpet) | Esch-sur-Alzette, Lux. (indoor carpet) | Esch-sur-Alzette, Lux. (indoor carpet) | Poland | Poland | 4 | | | |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg | | Esch-sur-Alzette, Lux. (indoor carpet) | Esch-sur-Alzette, Lux. (indoor carpet) | Esch-sur-Alzette, Lux. (indoor carpet) | Belarus | Belarus | 1 | | | |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg | | Belarus | Belarus | 4 | Belarus | Belarus | 1 | | | |
| | | | Belarus | Belarus | 4 | | | | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) |
| | | | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 1 | | | | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) |
| | | | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 1 | | | | Poland | Poland | 1 |
| | | | Budva, Yugoslavia (clay) | Budva, Yugoslavia (clay) | Budva, Yugoslavia (clay) | | | | Poland | Poland | 1 |
| | | | Budva, Yugoslavia (clay) | Budva, Yugoslavia (clay) | Budva, Yugoslavia (clay) | | | | Slovakia | Slovakia | 4 |
| | | | Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | 1 | | | | Slovakia | Slovakia | 4 |
| Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (carpet) | Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (carpet) | Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (carpet) | Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | 1 | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) | | | |
| Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (carpet) | Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (carpet) | Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (carpet) | Slovakia | Slovakia | 4 | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) | Trnava, Slovakia (indoor carpet) | | | |
| Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | 5 | Slovakia | Slovakia | 4 | Slovakia | Slovakia | 5 | | | |
| Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | 5 | Algiers, Algeria (clay) | Algiers, Algeria (clay) | Algiers, Algeria (clay) | Slovakia | Slovakia | 5 | | | |
| Algeria | Algeria | 0 | Algiers, Algeria (clay) | Algiers, Algeria (clay) | Algiers, Algeria (clay) | Portugal | Portugal | 0 | | | |
| Algeria | Algeria | 0 | Algeria | Algeria | 0 | Portugal | Portugal | 0 | | | |
| | | | Portugal | Portugal | 5 | | | | | | |
* Malta, Macedonia, Nigeria, and Algeria relegated to Group III in 1997.
* Great Britain and Slovakia promoted to Group I in 1997.

### Group III – Zone A

* Venue: T.E.D. Club, Istanbul, Turkey
* Date: 20–26 May
Group A
| | LTU | SEN | SMR | ETH | AZE | ISL | SUD | RR W–L | Match W–L | Set W–L | Standings |
| Lithuania | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 18–0 (100%) | 36–3 (92%) | 1 |
| Senegal | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 13–5 (72%) | 28–13 (68%) | 2 |
| San Marino | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 13–5 (72%) | 27–12 (69%) | 3 |
| Ethiopia | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 8–10 (44%) | 18–23 (44%) | 4 |
| Azerbaijan | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 4–14 (22%) | 12–30 (29%) | 5 |
| Iceland | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 1–5 | 5–13 (28%) | 13–26 (33%) | 6 |
| Sudan | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | | 0–6 | 2–16 (11%) | 6–33 (15%) | 7 |
Group B
| | GEO | TUR | ARM | BIH | LIE | TUN | BEN | RR W–L | Match W–L | Set W–L | Standings |
| Georgia | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 13–5 (72%) | 28–11 (72%) | 1 |
| Turkey | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 14–4 (78%) | 28–9 (76%) | 2 |
| Armenia | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 12–6 (67%) | 27–16 (63%) | 3 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 10–8 (56%) | 22–20 (52%) | 4 |
| Liechtenstein | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 7–11 (39%) | 16–24 (40%) | 5 |
| Tunisia | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 1–5 | 4–14 (22%) | 13–30 (30%) | 6 |
| Benin | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 0–6 | 3–15 (17%) | 7–31 (18%) | 7 |
* Lithuania and Georgia promoted to Group II in 1997.
* Azerbaijan, Iceland, Sudan, Liechtenstein, Tunisia and Benin assigned to Group IV in 1997.

### Group III – Zone B

* Venue: Nairobi Club Ground, Nairobi, Kenya
* Date: 8–14 January
Group A
| | IRL | CMR | EST | MDA | CYP | ZAM | DJI | RR W–L | Match W–L | Set W–L | Standings |
| Ireland | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 17–1 (94%) | 32–4 (89%) | 1 |
| Cameroon | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 13–5 (72%) | 26–12 (68%) | 2 |
| Estonia | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 12–6 (67%) | 25–15 (63%) | 3 |
| Moldova | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 9–9 (50%) | 21–19 (53%) | 4 |
| Cyprus | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–4 | 8–10 (44%) | 19–18 (51%) | 5 |
| Zambia | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 1–5 | 4–14 (22%) | 9–28 (24%) | 6 |
| Djibouti | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | | 0–6 | 0–18 (0%) | 0–36 (0%) | 7 |
Group B
| | GRE | BUL | MON | KEN | BOT | TOG | CGO | RR W–L | Match W–L | Set W–L | Standings |
| Greece | | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 16–2 (89%) | 33–7 (83%) | 1 |
| Bulgaria | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 15–3 (83%) | 30–10 (75%) | 2 |
| Monaco | 2–1 | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 13–5 (72%) | 27–14 (66%) | 3 |
| Kenya | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 10–8 (56%) | 25–18 (58%) | 4 |
| Botswana | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–4 | 6–12 (33%) | 14–25 (36%) | 5 |
| Togo | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 1–5 | 3–15 (17%) | 10–29 (26%) | 6 |
| Congo | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | | 0–6 | 0–18 (0%) | 0–36 (0%) | 7 |
* Ireland and Greece promoted to Group II in 1997.
* Cyprus, Zambia, Djibouti, Botswana, Togo and Congo assigned to Group IV in 1997.