1981 CONCACAF Championship qualification

A total of 15 CONCACAF teams entered the competition. The 15 teams were divided into 3 zones, based on geographical considerations, as follows:
* North American Zone had 3 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner and runner-up would advance to the Final Round.
* Central American Zone had 5 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner and runner-up would advance to the Final Round.
* Caribbean Zone had 7 teams, which would be divided into 2 groups - Group A had 4 teams and Group B had 3 teams. 2 teams in Group A played in the Preliminary Round, against each other on a home-and-away basis, with the winner advancing to Group A proper. The 3 teams in each group would then play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would advance to the Final Round.

CONCACAF North American Zone

October 18, 1980, Toronto, Canada - fb|CAN 1 - 1 fb|MEX

October 25, 1980, Fort Lauderdale, USA - fb|USA 0 - 0 fb|CAN

November 1, 1980, Vancouver, Canada - fb|CAN 2 - 1 fb|USA

November 9, 1980, Mexico City, Mexico - fb|MEX 5 - 1 fb|USA

November 16, 1980, Mexico City, Mexico - fb|MEX 1 - 1 fb|CAN

November 23, 1980, Fort Lauderdale, USA - fb|USA 2 - 1 fb|MEX

"Cuba" advanced to the tournament.

Group B

August 1, 1980, Port au Prince, Haiti - fb|HAI|1964 2 - 0 fb|TRI

August 17, 1980, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago - fb|TRI 1 - 0 fb|HAI|1964

September 12, 1980, Port au Prince, Haiti - fb|HAI|1964 1 - 0 fb|ANT

November 9, 1980, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - fb|TRI 0 - 0 fb|ANT

November 29, 1980, Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles - fb|ANT 0 - 0 fb|TRI

December 12, 1980, Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles - fb|ANT 1 - 1 fb|HAI|1964

"Haiti" advanced to the tournament.