The 1996 Copa Libertadores final stages were played from 30 April to 26 June 1996 and consisted of the round of 16 (or second stage), quarter-finals, semi-finals and the finals. A total of 16 teams competed in the final stages to decide the champions of the 1996 Copa Libertadores.
The winners, runners-up and third placed teams of each of the five groups in the group stage advanced to the round of 16, alongside defending champions Grêmio, who received a direct bye to this round. <onlyinclude><section begin=Qualified teams /> <section end=Qualified teams />
<section begin=Seeding /> In the final stages, the teams were seeded according to the pre-established numbering they received according to the final position they occupied in their respective group. Numbers 1, 5, 9, 13 and 17 correspond to each group winners; numbers 2, 6, 10, 14 and 18 to runners-up; and 3, 7, 11, 15 and 19 to third placed teams.
<section end=Seeding />
<section begin=Format /> In the final stages, the 16 teams played a single-elimination tournament with the following rules:
The above criteria were established to ensure that the four semifinalists would be of different nationalities (Regulations Section III, Article 3).<section end=Format />
The original bracket for the final stages was determined as follows:
<section begin=Bracket /> Per regulations, the original bracket had the following modifications:
<section end=Bracket />
The first legs were played on 30 April, 1 and 2 May. and the second legs were played on 8 and 9 May 1996. <section begin=Round of 16 />
<section end=Round of 16 />
Tied 2âÂÂ2 on aggregate, Barcelona won on penalties and advanced to the quarter-finals (Match S4).
San Lorenzo won 8âÂÂ3 on aggregate and advanced to the quarter-finals (Match S3).
América de Cali won 5âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the quarter-finals (Match S1).
Corinthians won 5âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the quarter-finals (Match S2).
River Plate won 6âÂÂ4 on aggregate and advanced to the quarter-finals (Match S3).
Junior won 1âÂÂ0 on aggregate and advanced to the quarter-finals (Match S1).
Tied 4âÂÂ4 on aggregate, Universidad de Chile won on penalties and advanced to the quarter-finals (Match S4).
Grêmio won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the quarter-finals (Match S2).
The first legs were played on 15 May, and the second legs were played on 22 and 24 May 1996. <section begin=Quarter-finals />
<section end=Quarter-finals />
América de Cali won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the semi-finals (Match F1).
Grêmio won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the semi-finals (Match F1).
River Plate won 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the semi-finals (Match F2).
Universidad de Chile won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the semi-finals (Match F2).
The first legs were played on 9 August, and the second legs were played on 16 August 1995. <section begin=Semi-finals />
<section end=Semi-finals />
América de Cali won 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the finals.
River Plate won 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the finals.</onlyinclude>
The first leg was played on 19 June, and the second leg was played on 26 June 1996.