Means of qualification | Berths | Qualified |
Host nation | 1 | United States |
AFC Preliminary Competition | 3 | South Korea (winner)
Japan (runner-up)
Saudi Arabia (third-place) |
CAF Preliminary Competition | 3 | Ghana
Tunisia
Nigeria |
CONCACAF Preliminary Competition | 1 | Mexico (winner) |
CONMEBOL Preliminary Competition | 2 | Brazil (winner)
Argentina (runner-up) |
1996 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship | 5 | Italy (winner)
Spain (runner-up)
France (third-place)
Hungary (5th)
Portugal (6th) |
1996 CONCACAF–OFC play-off | 1 | Australia |
Total | 16 | |