1981 Merdeka Tournament
# 1981 Merdeka Tournament

The 1981 Merdeka Tournament was held from 30 August to 20 September 1981 in Malaysia.

## Group stage

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Japan | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 8 | Semifinal |
| 2 | India | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 6 | Semifinal |
| 3 | New Zealand | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 6 | |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 4 | |
| 5 | Indonesia | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 3 | |
| 6 | Malaysia | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 3 | |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sao Paolo XI | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | +10 | 8 | Semifinal |
| 2 | Iraq | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 5 | Semifinal |
| 3 | South Korea | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Thailand | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 14 | −8 | 3 | |
| 5 | Singapore | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | −11 | 0 | |

## Knockout stage

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - |
| 18 September – Kuala Lumpur | 18 September – Kuala Lumpur |
| Japan | 0 |
| Japan | 0 | 20 September – Kuala Lumpur | 20 September – Kuala Lumpur |
| Iraq | 2 | 20 September – Kuala Lumpur | 20 September – Kuala Lumpur |
| Iraq | 2 | Sao Paolo XI | 0 |
| 18 September – Kuala Lumpur | 18 September – Kuala Lumpur | | Sao Paolo XI | 0 |
| 18 September – Kuala Lumpur | 18 September – Kuala Lumpur | Iraq | 1 |
| Sao Paolo XI | 2 | Iraq | 1 |
| India | 0 | | |
