The 1980 AFC Youth Championship was held from 21 February to 1 March 1981 in Bangkok, Thailand. The tournament was won by for the fifth time by South Korea.
Qualification
The finals will consist of five teams from the qualification phase. Qualification consisted of two groups with the top two of Group 1 and the top three of Group 2 qualifying for the final tournament.
Qualified teams
(Qualification Group 1 winners) (Qualification Group 1 runners-up) (Qualification Group 2 winners) (Qualification Group 2 runners-up) (Qualification Group 2 third place)
Final tournament
Winner
Qualification to World Youth Championship
The following teams qualified for the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship.