This article lists the squads for the 1996 AFC Asian Cup played in United Arab Emirates. Players marked (c) were named as captain for their national squad. Number of caps counts until the start of the tournament, including all pre-tournament friendlies. Player's age is their age on the opening day of the tournament, which was 4 December 1996.
See main article: Indonesia national football team. Head coach: Muhammad Danurwindo
See main article: Kuwait national football team. Head coach: Milan Macala
See main article: South Korea national football team. Head coach: Park Jong-Hwan
See main article: United Arab Emirates national football team. Head coach: Tomislav Ivić
See main article: Iran national football team. Head coach: Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
See main article: Iraq national football team. Head coach: Yahya Alwan
See main article: Saudi Arabia national football team. Head coach: Nelo Vingada
See main article: Thailand national football team. Head coach: Arjhan Srong-ngamsub
See main article: China national football team. Head coach: Qi Wusheng
See main article: Japan national football team. Head coach: Shu Kamo
See main article: Syria national football team. Head coach: Yuriy Kurnenin
See main article: Uzbekistan national football team. Head coach: Bokhodyr Ibragimov