Supercopa Libertadores
It was the first and only time the competition was hosted by a single nation and all the matches were played at the Vivaldão. The competition was contested by Grêmio, winners of the 1995 Copa Libertadores, Flamengo, runners-up of the 1995 Supercopa Libertadores, Rosario Central, winners of the 1995 Copa CONMEBOL, and São Paulo, winners of the 1996 Copa Master de Conmebol. Independiente, winners of the previous Supercopa Libertadores, declined to participate as they had in 1995.