| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Mexico |
| Teams | 33 |
| Defending champions | Tigres UANL |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Cruz Azul |
| Runner-up | Toros Neza |
The 1996–97 Copa México was the 67th staging of the Copa México and the 40th staging in the professional era. The competition did not return until 2012.
The competition started on June 28, 1996, and concluded on August 3, 1996, with the final, in which Cruz Azul lifted the trophy for second time, with a 2-0 victory over Toros Neza.
For this edition was played by 33 teams, between Primera División and Primera División A, where the group winners advance to the semi-finals. In the qualifying round, a penalty shutout follows if tie after regulation. the group stage was a 1-game serie.
Group stage
Group 1
Teams from Primera División: Atlante F.C., Celaya, Morelia, Toros Neza, Pachuca and Toluca
Teams from Primera División A: Cruz Azul Hidalgo, Irapuato and San Luis
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PKW | PKL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toros Neza | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 8 | +9 | 18 | Advanced to the next phase |
| 2 | San Luis | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 15 | |
| 3 | Irapuato | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 12 | |
| 4 | Pachuca | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 12 | |
| 5 | Atlante F.C. | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 12 | −1 | 12 | |
| 6 | Morelia | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 12 | −2 | 12 | |
| 7 | Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 12 | |
| 8 | Toluca | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 9 | |
| 9 | Celaya | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 15 | −8 | 6 |
Group 2
Teams from Primera División: Atlas, Guadalajara, León and Tecos UAG
Teams from Primera División A: Hermosillo, La Piedad, San Francisco and Tijuana
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PKW | PKL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guadalajara | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 6 | +19 | 18 | Advanced to the next phase |
| 2 | León | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 15 | |
| 3 | Atlas | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 12 | |
| 4 | La Piedad | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 11 | −1 | 12 | |
| 5 | Tecos UAG | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 17 | −4 | 12 | |
| 6 | Tijuana | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 9 | |
| 7 | San Francisco | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 | −4 | 6 | |
| 8 | Hermosillo | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 19 | −12 | 3 |
Group 3
Teams from Primera División: Club América, Monterrey and Santos Laguna
Teams from Primera División A: Saltillo, Tampico Madero, Tigres UANL, Correcaminos UAT and U. de N.L.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PKW | PKL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tigres UANL | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 18 | Advanced to the next phase |
| 2 | Club América | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 12 | +4 | 15 | |
| 3 | Tampico Madero | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 15 | |
| 4 | U. de N.L. | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 12 | |
| 5 | Saltillo | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 9 | |
| 6 | Santos Laguna | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 6 | |
| 7 | Monterrey | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 6 | |
| 8 | Correcaminos UAT | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 11 | −2 | 3 |
Group 4
Teams from Primera División: Cruz Azul, Necaxa, Puebla, Pumas UNAM and Veracruz
Teams from Primera División A: Acapulco, Marte and Zacatepec
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PKW | PKL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cruz Azul | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 8 | +12 | 18 | Advanced to the next phase |
| 2 | Pumas UNAM | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 15 | |
| 3 | Necaxa | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 11 | +2 | 15 | |
| 4 | Puebla | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 12 | |
| 5 | Zacatepec | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 9 | |
| 6 | Veracruz | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 6 | |
| 7 | Marte | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 15 | −6 | 6 | |
| 8 | Acapulco | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 18 | −15 | 3 |
Championship round
| Semifinals 31 July 1996 | Final 3 August 1996 | ||||||||
| Guadalajara | 0 | ||||||||
| Toros Neza | 2 | ||||||||
| Toros Neza | 0 | ||||||||
| Cruz Azul | 2 | ||||||||
| Tigres UANL | 1(3) | ||||||||
| Cruz Azul (p) | 1(4) | ||||||||
Final
| Toros Neza | 0 – 2 | Cruz Azul |
|---|---|---|
Luis Carlos de Oliveira  Carlos Hermosillo |
| Copa México 1996–97 Winners |
|---|
| Cruz Azul 2nd title |