The 1980 AFC Asian Cup was the seventh edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the premier football competition of AFC. Qualification began on 25 December 1978 and ended in 14 May 1979, with Kuwait automatically qualified as hosts.
In the previous edition, South Korea did not qualify, being eliminated by Malaysia and Thailand; while Kuwait automatically qualified due to the withdrawal of four teams in Group 1. Kuwait then took part in the competition and reached the final, before agonisingly lost to Iran 0–1 by a goal from Ali Parvin. This meeting was the first time the two nations faced each other in the final of a continental championship, this were both Kuwait and South Korea's second appearance in an Asian Cup final, with both teams lost to Iran in the two previous finals. However, South Korea had won the tournament in the two first editions when the knockout format was yet issued.
The Sabah Al Salem Stadium, located in Kuwait City, Kuwait, hosted the 1980 AFC Asian Cup Final. The 15,000-seat stadium was built in 1977. It was only stadium used to host the 1980 Asian Cup; all matches were played in this stadium.
