The first was Paris Saint-Germain F.C., who were the trophy holders, and the second was Nîmes Olympique, who had lost the Coupe de France final against AJ Auxerre, who had qualified for the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League.
Paris Saint-Germain F.C. were the trophy holders, while Nîmes Olympique had been eliminated in the Coupe de France final by AJ Auxerre, who subsequently qualified for the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League.