Listed below are the dates and results for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the Asian and Oceanian zone (AFC and OFC). For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification.
A total of 21 AFC and OFC teams entered the competition. However, Iran withdrew before the draw was made. The Asian and Oceanian zone was allocated 2 places (out of 24) in the final tournament.
Format There would be two rounds of play: First Round: The remaining 20 teams would be divided into 4 groups. The groups had different rules, as follows: Group 1 had 5 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would qualify. Group 2 had 5 teams. The teams played against each other once in Saudi Arabia. The group winner would qualify. Group 3 had 4 teams. The teams played against each other once in Kuwait. The group winner would qualify. Group 4 had 6 teams. All matches were played in Hong Kong. There would be four stages of play: Classification matches: All teams would be paired up to play preliminary matches to determine group classification. Group stage: Based on the results of the classification matches, the 6 teams were divided into 2 groups of 3 teams each. The teams played against each other once. The group winners and runners-up would advance to the semi-finals. Semifinals: The winner of Group A played against the runner-up of Group B in a single match, and the winner of Group B played against the runner-up of Group A in a single match. The winners would advance to the Final. Final: The 2 teams played against each other in a single match. The winner would advance to the Final Round. Final Round: The 4 teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner and runner-up would qualify.
First round
Group 1
New Zealand advanced to the Final Round.
Group 2
Saudi Arabia advanced to the Final Round.
Group 3
Kuwait advanced to the Final Round.
To date, it is last time that South Korea failed to qualify.
Group 4
Classification matches
Based on the results, China PR, Japan and Macau were placed in Group A, while Hong Kong, Korea DPR and Singapore were placed in Group B.
Group 4A
China and Japan advanced to the Group 4 Semifinals.
Group 4B
Korea DPR and Hong Kong advanced to the Group 4 Semifinals.
Zonal semi-finals
Korea DPR advanced to the Group 4 Final.
China PR advanced to the Group 4 Final on penalties.
Zonal final
China PR advanced to the Final Round.
Final round
Notes
Play-off At the time, goals scored and head-to-head results were not used to rank teams level on points and goal difference. As China PR and New Zealand finished level on points and goal difference, a play-off on neutral ground was played to determine who would qualify.
The match was originally planned to be played in Kuala Lumpur until New Zealand protested because the venue had hosted previous matches for China. Melbourne was also considered before Singapore was ultimately chosen.
Kuwait and New Zealand qualified.
Qualified teams The following two teams from AFC and OFC qualified for the final tournament.
Team Qualified as Qualified onPrevious appearances in FIFA World Cup1 0 (debut) 0 (debut) 1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.
Goalscorers 9 goals
Gary Cole Steve Sumner Brian Turner
8 goals
Grant Turner Steve Wooddin
5 goals
Huang Xiangdong Abdulaziz Al-Anberi
4 goals
Gu Guangming Faisal Al-Dakhil Wynton Rufer
3 goals
Dave Mitchell Rong Zhixing Deng Chyan Ratu Jone Jasem Yaqoub Kim Yong-nam Li Yong-sob Mansour Muftah Majed Abdullah
2 goals
John Kosmina Eddie Krncevic Chen Jingang Zuo Shusheng Meli Vuilabasa Herry Risdianto Kazushi Kimura Nassir Al-Ghanem Fathi Kameel Ibrahim Din Ricki Herbert Li Chang-ha Saud Jassem Choi Soon-ho Shait Ahmed Jehad
1 goal
Murray Barnes Ken Boden Gary Byrne Alan Davidson Tony Henderson Peter Sharne Fouad Bushegir Cai Jinbiao Chen Xirong Shen Xiangfu Chang Kuo Chi Jyn Tson John Morris Williams Choi Jork Yee Wan Chi Keung Wu Kwok Hung Hadi Ismanto Budi Johannis Nazar Ashraf Hadi Ahmed Adnan Dirjal Adel Khudhair Hussein Saeed Haruhisa Hasegawa Hideki Maeda Sami Al-Hashash Mahboub Juma'a Mohammed Karam James Wong Chye Fook Duncan Cole Adrian Elrick Keith Mackay Billy McClure Li Yong-man Ibrahim Khalfan Khalid Salman Shaye Al Nafeesah Ahmed Al Nifawi Yousef Aboloya Amin Dabo Thasmbiayah Pathmanathan Choi Jong-duk Hong Sung-ho Lee Kang-jo Lee Tae-ho Oh Seok-jae Piyapong Pue-On Khan Thatat Songwuti Sompit Suwannapluoh
1 own goal Upendran Choy (playing against Indonesia)
See also 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL) 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF) 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
References