Wikipedia

1981 CONCACAF Championship qualification

The 1981 CONCACAF Championship qualification competition was the qualifying contest to decide the finalists for the 1981 CONCACAF Championship – the eighth international association football championship for members of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). Qualifying ran from 30 March – 21 December 1980 and was contested by the national teams of 15 CONCACAF member associations. The competition doubled as the qualification competition for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

1981 CONCACAF Championship qualification
Tournament details
Dates30 March – 21 December 1980
Teams15 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played40
Goals scored92 (2.3 per match)
← 1977
1985 →

As with the previous edition, no teams qualified automatically. The qualifying competition was split into three zones – a Caribbean zone, a Central American zone and a North American zone. Two teams from each zone – Cuba and Haiti from the Caribbean zone, Honduras and El Salvador from the Central American zone and Canada and Mexico from the North American zone – qualified for the final tournament.

Background

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The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) was founded as a merger of the Confederación Centroamericana y del Caribe de Fútbol (CCCF) and North American Football Confederation (NAFC) in 1961.[1] The first CONCACAF Championship, in which all the competing nations qualified automatically, was held in 1963.[2] A qualifying competition was introduced from the second edition in 1965.[3] From 1973, the competition doubled as the qualifying competition for the FIFA World Cup for teams in North, Central America and the Caribbean. Only the winner of each edition would qualify for the World Cup.[1]

Format

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Qualification for the 1981 CONCACAF Championship was split into a Caribbean zone, a Central American zone and a North American zone.[4]

In both the North and Central American zones, the competing teams would contest a double round-robin where each team would play all of the others twice. The winners and runners-up from both sections would qualify for the final tournament.[4]

A preliminary round was contested in the Caribbean zone in which two of the teams would contest a two-legged tie. The team scoring more goals on aggregate would advance. The zone was then split into two groups in which the competing teams would contest a double round-robin. Each team would play all of the others twice. The winners of both groups would qualify for the final tournament.[4]

Participants

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North American zone

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The North American zone began on 18 October when Canada drew 1–1 with Mexico. A week later, the United States and Canada played out a goalless draw. On 1 November, Canada defeated the United States 2–1 to qualify for the final tournament. With half the games played, Canada led the group with four points, three ahead of both Mexico and the United States.[4]

On 9 November, Mexico defeated the United States 5–1. A week later, Mexico again drew 1–1 with Canada to qualify for the final tournament. In the final match, the United States defeated Mexico 2–1 on 23 November.[4]

Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Canada 4 1 3 0 4 3 +1 5 Qualification for 1981 CONCACAF Championship
2  Mexico 4 1 2 1 8 5 +3 4
3  United States 4 1 1 2 4 8 −4 3
Source: [4]

Results

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Canada 1–1 Mexico
Stojanović 43' [4] Luna 89'
Attendance: 6,371
United States 0–0 Canada
[4]
Attendance: 7,864
Referee: Herrera García (El Salvador)
Canada 2–1 United States
 [4] Villa 90'
Attendance: 13,598
Mexico 5–1 United States
 [4] Davis 76' (pen.)
Attendance: 90,000
Referee: Valverde Salazar (Costa Rica)
Mexico 1–1 Canada
Sánchez 75' (pen.) [4] Gray 87'
Attendance: 108,000
Referee: Midence Torres (Honduras)
United States 2–1 Mexico
Moyers 31', 65' [4] Sánchez 40'
Attendance: 2,126
Referee: Gracias Regalado (Guatemala)

Central American zone

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The Central American zone began on 2 July when Guatemala defeated Panama 2–0. On 30 July, Honduras defeated Panama by the same score line. On 10 August, Panama drew 1–1 with Costa Rica. A fortnight later, El Salvador defeated Panama 3–1. On 1 October, Honduras defeated Costa Rica 3–2. Four days later, El Salvador defeated Panama 4–1. On 12 October, Guatemala and Costa Rica played out a goalless draw. Two weeks later, Honduras and Guatemala also drew goalless.[4]

On the same day, Costa Rica were due to play away against El Salvador but they did not show up for the match. The Federación Costarricense de Fútbol cited security concerns around the Salvadoran Civil War but were heavily criticised for the decision. The match was subsequently awarded as a 2–0 win to El Salvador.[5]

On 5 November, Costa Rica defeated Panama 2–0. With half the matches played, El Salvador were top of the table with six points from a possible six, one point ahead of Honduras and two clear of Guatemala and Costa Rica.[4]

Guatemala and El Salvador drew goalless on 9 November. A week later, Guatemala won 5–0 against Panama and Honduras drew 1–1 with Costa Rica. On 23 November, El Salvador ended Honduras' unbeaten start to the competition by defeating them 2–1. Three days later, Guatemala defeated Costa Rica 3–0. With five matches left overall, Guatemala – who were yet to concede a goal – and El Salvador were tied on nine points, three points ahead of Honduras.[4]

On 30 November, Honduras ended El Salvador's unbeaten start to the competition by defeating them 2–0. A week later, Honduras went top of the group with a 1–0 win against Guatemala. On 10 December, Costa Rica and El Salvador played out a goalless draw. Four days later, Honduras qualified for the final tournament by defeating Panama 5–0. In the final match a week later, El Salvador defeated Guatemala 1–0 in a winner-takes-all fixture to qualify for the final tournament.[4]

Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Honduras 8 5 2 1 15 5 +10 12 Qualification for 1981 CONCACAF Championship
2  El Salvador 8 5 2 1 12 5 +7 12
3  Guatemala 8 3 3 2 10 2 +8 9
4  Costa Rica 8 1 4 3 6 10 −4 6
5  Panama 8 0 1 7 3 24 −21 1
Source: [4]

Results

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Panama 0–2 Guatemala
[4]
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Robert Evans (United States)
Panama 0–2 Honduras
[4]
Attendance: 8,975
Referee: Hubert Tromp (Netherlands Antilles)
Panama 1–1 Costa Rica
Montillo 37' [4] Arroyo 73'
Attendance: 5,678
Referee: Goede (Suriname)
Panama 1–3 El Salvador
Paschal 19' [4]
Attendance: 3,547
Referee: Frederick Hoyte (Barbados)
Costa Rica 2–3 Honduras
 [4]
Attendance: 18,263
Referee: Soupliotis (Canada)
El Salvador 4–1 Panama
 [4] Montillo 27'
Attendance: 33,005
Referee: Winsemann (Canada)
Guatemala 0–0 Costa Rica
[4]
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Narvaez Escobar (Mexico)
Honduras 0–0 Guatemala
[4]
Attendance: 44,220
El Salvador 2–0
(awarded)[note 1]		 Costa Rica
[4]
Referee: Domingo de la Mora (Mexico)
Costa Rica 2–0 Panama
 [4]
Attendance: 7,873
Referee: Dante Maglio (Canada)
Guatemala 0–0 El Salvador
[4]
Attendance: 42,453
Guatemala 5–0 Panama
 [4]
Attendance: 32,216
Referee: Johnson (Canada)
Honduras 1–1 Costa Rica
Velásquez 77' [4] Morera 33'
Attendance: 28,159
El Salvador 2–1 Honduras
 [4] Figueroa 85'
Attendance: 40,851
Referee: Fusco (Canada)
Costa Rica 0–3 Guatemala
[4]
Attendance: 17,042
Referee: Matos (Canada)
Honduras 2–0 El Salvador
Bailey 23', 66' [4]
Attendance: 38,979
Guatemala 0–1 Honduras
[4] Bailey 71'
Attendance: 42,381
Referee: Kibritjian (United States)
Costa Rica 0–0 El Salvador
[4]
Attendance: 3,284
Referee: Rubio Vasquez (Mexico)
Honduras 5–0 Panama
 [4]
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Mendoza Guillen (Mexico)
El Salvador 1–0 Guatemala
Huezo 49' [4]
Attendance: 22,813
Referee: D'Ippolito (United States)

Caribbean zone

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Preliminary round

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In the preliminary round first leg on 30 March, Guyana defeated Grenada 5–2. In the second leg a fortnight later, Guyana won 3–2 against Grenada to advance 8–4 on aggregate.[4]

Preliminary round
Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Guyana 8–4 Grenada5–23–2
Guyana 5–2 Grenada
 [4]
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: José Leonidas Rogel (El Salvador)
Grenada 2–3 Guyana
 [4]
Attendance: 1,298
Referee: Juan Ramón Mollinero (Guatemala)

Guyana won 8–4 on aggregate.

Group A

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Group A began on 17 August when Cuba defeated Suriname 3–0. On 7 September, Suriname and Cuba played out a goalless draw. On 28 September, Suriname defeated Guyana 1–0. With half the matches played, Cuba and Suriname were tied on three points at the top of the table.[4]

On 12 October, Suriname defeated Guyana 4–0 in what was their final game to go clear at the top of the table. On 9 November, Cuba defeated Guyana 1–0 to pull level on points with Suriname. Three weeks later, Cuba won 3–0 against Guyana to qualify for the final tournament.[4]

Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Cuba 4 3 1 0 7 0 +7 7 Qualification for 1981 CONCACAF Championship
2  Suriname 4 2 1 1 5 3 +2 5
3  Guyana 4 0 0 4 0 9 −9 0
Source: [4]

Results

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Cuba 3–0 Suriname
 [4]
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Antonio Márquez (Mexico)
Suriname 0–0 Cuba
[4]
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Hubert Tromp (Netherlands Antilles)
Guyana 0–1 Suriname
[4] Stjeward 22'
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Reginald Wooding (Trinidad and Tobago)
Suriname 4–0 Guyana
 [4]
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: L. De Boer (Netherlands Antilles)
Cuba 1–0 Guyana
Hernández 14' [4]
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Whilston Taylor (Jamaica)
Guyana 0–3 Cuba
[4]
McKenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden
Attendance: 7,664
Referee: R. Goede (Suriname)

Group B

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Group B began on 1 August when Haiti defeated Trinidad and Tobago 2–0. On 17 August, Trinidad and Tobago won 1–0 against Haiti. On 12 September, Haiti won 1–0 against the Netherlands Antilles. With half the matches played, Haiti were top of the group with four points, two ahead of Trinidad and Tobago.[4]

On 9 November, Trinidad and Tobago drew goalless with the Netherlands Antilles. They again played out a goalless draw on 29 November which eliminated Trinidad and Tobago in their last match of the competition. In the final match on 12 December, Haiti drew 1–1 with the Netherlands Antilles to qualify for the final tournament.[4]

Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Haiti 4 2 1 1 4 2 +2 5 Qualification for 1981 CONCACAF Championship
2  Trinidad and Tobago 4 1 2 1 1 2 −1 4
3  Netherlands Antilles 4 0 3 1 1 2 −1 3
Source: [4]

Results

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Haiti 2–0 Trinidad and Tobago
 [4]
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Marcel Pérez (Mexico)
Trinidad and Tobago 1–0 Haiti
Spann 55' (pen.) [4]
Attendance: 5,535
Referee: Carlos Monge (Costa Rica)
Haiti 1–0 Netherlands Antilles
Brevil 74' [4]
Attendance: 8,606
Referee: Whilston Taylor (Jamaica)
Trinidad and Tobago 0–0 Netherlands Antilles
[4]
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Frederick Hoyte (Barbados)
Netherlands Antilles 0–0 Trinidad and Tobago
[4]
Attendance: 7,991
Referee: Glenn Kranenburg (Suriname)
Netherlands Antilles 1–1 Haiti
Kwidama 73' [4] Crispin 3'
Attendance: 6,467
Referee: Domingo De la Mora (Mexico)

Goalscorers

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There were 92 goals scored in 40 matches, for an average of 2.3 goals per match.

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Notes

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  1. ↑ Costa Rica refused to travel to El Salvador for security reasons. FIFA awarded 2–0 win to El Salvador.[5]

References

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  1. 1 2 Stokkermans, Karel (7 July 2025). "CCCF and Concacaf Championships". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  2. ↑ Gandini, Luca; Lugo, Erik Francisco; Reyes, Macario (15 September 2021). "I. CONCACAF NATIONS CUP (NORCECA) 1963". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  3. ↑ Gandini, Luca; Lugo, Erik Francisco; Reyes, Macario (19 August 2021). "II. CONCACAF NATIONS CUP 1965". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 Stokkermans, Karel; Jarreta, Sergio Henrique (3 January 2000). "World Cup 1982 Qualifying". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  5. 1 2 Calvo, Rodrigo (1 November 2020). "La extraña ausencia de la 'Sele' a juego del Premundial 1982" [The strange absence of the 'Sele' from the 1982 Pre-World Cup game] (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 April 2026.
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