This 1980 AFC Asian Cup qualification phase started in December 1978 while other qualification matches took place in early 1979. A total of 18 teams participated. Eight teams from the top two of each group advance to the final tournament, joining hosts

Kuwait Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...

and defending champions

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

Groups

* * Withdrew * qualified as defending champions * qualified as hosts

Qualification

Group 1

*All matches played in the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia ( The Middle East). It is located at t ...

. ---- ---- ---- ----

Group 2

*All matches played in

Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...

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Group 3

*All matches played in

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

. ---- ;Allocation matches to determine groups * received a bye ---- ---- ----

Group 3A

---- ----

Group 3B

---- ----

Semi-finals

----

Third place play-off

Final

and qualified for the final tournament''

Group 4

*All matches played in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. ---- ---- ----

Qualified teams

Controversies

In the 17 November match between Syria and Bahrain, the referee awarded a penalty to Bahrain. The Syrian head coach entered the pitch, threatening the referee, who stopped the match in the 81st minute. The committee initially awarded the match 3–0 in favour of Bahrain, but Syria threatened to withdraw; the committee adjusted its decision to a replay of the match on 25 November, but then Bahrain withdrew. All matches involving Bahrain were annulled.''

Al Anwar ''Al Anwar'' ( ar, الانوار, lit=The Lights) was an Arabic daily newspaper published in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded in 1959 and was one of the leading dailies in Lebanon. In October 2018, the publisher Dar Assayad announced ceasing of ...

'', November 1979

References

*Morrison, Neil; Jovanovic, Bojan; Panahi, Majeed; Veroeveren, Pieter
"Asian Nations Cup 1980"
RSSSF. *"A-Cup: Singapore in Group Three"
The Straits Times, 19 September 1978, Page 24
*"Champions Iran out of Asian Cup final round"
The Straits Times, 25 May 1979, Page 35
*''

'', November 1979 {{AFC Asian Cup AFC AFC Qual Qual AFC Asian Cup qualification 1980 AFC Asian Cup