Atlanta Olympics flashback | On July 21, 1996, women’s soccer debuts, and USA makes a statement
The first Olympic women’s football tournament begins with Team USA rolling.
(Editor’s note: On Sept. 18, 1990, the city of Atlanta was changed forever when Juan Antonio Samaranch announced the International Olympic Committee had awarded the 1996 games to Atlanta. Atlanta News First is marking the 30th anniversary of the games with daily digital retrospectives of the most important, memorable events of the XXVI Olympiad.)
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A new Olympic chapter opens as women’s soccer makes its debut at the Games, and Team USA wastes no time looking like a favorite.
The Americans beat Denmark 3–0 in their opener, setting an early tone in a tournament that will quickly become one of Atlanta’s most important legacies.
Across the city, the first weekend crowds peak: packed venues, full transit lines, and a downtown footprint that turns Olympic viewing into a street-level experience, especially around Centennial Olympic Park and nearby attractions.
Highlight: Team USA’s 3–0 win over Denmark helps define the first day of Olympic women’s soccer.
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