Which country won the first Olympic women’s football gold medal at Atlanta 1996?

The United States won the first Olympic women’s football gold medal at Atlanta 1996.

Women’s football made its Olympic debut as a medal sport at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The tournament featured eight teams, and the United States reached the final against China at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.

The hosts won the final 2–1 in front of a huge home crowd. Tiffeny Milbrett scored for the United States before Shannon MacMillan and then Mia Hamm helped secure the victory; the decisive goal was scored by Tiffeny Milbrett in the second half. The result gave the United States the inaugural Olympic title in women’s football.

Women’s football had appeared at the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup shortly before Atlanta, but the Olympic tournament used a different qualification structure. The United States has remained one of the leading nations in Olympic women’s football.