1981 CONCACAF Championship — 1981 edition of the CONCACAF Championship association football competition
Honduras won their first CONCACAF Championship title and qualified for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, while Mexico was eliminated in an upset.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 8th CONCACAF Championship
- Dates
- 1–22 November 1981
- Venue
- Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
- Winner
- Honduras (first title)
- World Cup spots awarded
- 2 (of 24) for CONCACAF zone
- Notable upset
- Mexico eliminated by host Honduras
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1981 CONCACAF Championship served a dual purpose as both a regional title competition and a qualification tournament for the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. The North, Central American and Caribbean zone was allocated two of the 24 available World Cup places, giving every participating nation strong incentive to compete intensely for the top two finishes.
Held entirely at the Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino in Tegucigalpa from 1 to 22 November 1981, the tournament saw host nation Honduras defeat traditional powerhouse Mexico in a pivotal upset. A 0–0 draw between Honduras and Mexico sealed Mexico's elimination and determined the second World Cup berth, with Honduras claiming the championship and El Salvador finishing as runners-up.
Honduras earned their first-ever CONCACAF Championship title and their first FIFA World Cup qualification. El Salvador advanced to Spain 1982 as CONCACAF runners-up, becoming the first Central American nation to qualify for more than one World Cup. The 1981 edition was also the last CONCACAF Championship to feature a designated host nation for the final round.
Result
at Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, Tegucigalpa