title: 1996 in Paraguayan football
text: # 1996 in Paraguayan football
  
  The following article presents a summary of the 1996 football (soccer) season in Paraguay.
  
  ## First division
  
  Thirteen teams participated in the championship which was played in two tournament (Apertura and Clausura), being the champions Guaraní and Cerro Porteño. In the Final Apertura versus Clausura Champions, Club Cerro Porteño won its 24th championship.
  
  ### Relegation/Promotion
  
  * Deportivo Humaitá automatically relegated to the second division after finishing last in the season-wide aggregate table.
  * Cerro Corá promoted to the first division by winning the second division tournament.
  
  ### Qualification to international competitions
  
  * Club Guaraní qualified to the 1997 Copa Libertadores by winning the Torneo Apertura.
  * Cerro Porteño qualified to the 1997 Copa Libertadores by winning the Torneo Clausura.
  * Sportivo Luqueño qualified to the 1997 Copa Conmebol like the runner-up of the Torneo Apertura.
  
  ## Paraguay national team
  
  | Date | Venue | Opponents | Score | Comp | Paraguay scorers | Fixture |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1996-02-14 | Estadio Olímpico Patria Sucre, Bolivia | Bolivia | 4–1 | F | Unknown | 424 |
  | 1996-04-21 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco Asunción, Paraguay | Herzeg-Bosnia | 3–0 | F | Gamarra 21' Báez 53' Ferreira 60' | 425 |
  | 1996-04-24 | Estadio Metropolitano Barranquilla, Colombia | Colombia | 1–0 | WCQ 1998 | | 426 |
  | 1996-06-02 | Estadio Centenario Montevideo, Uruguay | Uruguay | 0–2 | WCQ 1998 | Arce 10' Rojas 88' | 427 |
  | 1996-06-26 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco Asunción, Paraguay | Armenia | 1–2 | F | Esteche 45' | 428 |
  | 1996-07-26 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco Asunción, Paraguay | Bolivia | 2–0 | F | Ayala 26' Cardozo 54' | 429 |
  | 1996-08-08 | Workers Stadium Beijing, PR China | China | 0–2 | F | Unknown | 430 |
  | 1996-09-01 | Estadio Monumental Buenos Aires, Argentina | Argentina | 1–1 | WCQ 1998 | Chilavert 42' | 431 |
  | 1996-10-09 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco Asunción, Paraguay | Chile | 2–1 | WCQ 1998 | Gamarra 24' Rivarola 63' | 432 |
  | 1996-11-10 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco Asunción, Paraguay | Ecuador | 1–0 | WCQ 1998 | Benítez 23' | 433 |
  | 1996-12-15 | Estadio Hernando Siles La Paz, Bolivia | Bolivia | 0–0 | WCQ 1998 | | 434 |
  