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

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

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 due to the venue hosting 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.

Goalscorers