Sources: Soccer Action and Australian Soccer Weekly.

World Cup Qualifiers
Saturday April 25 1981 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Referee: Gianfranco Menegali (Italy) Attendance: 15,000
New Zealand Richard Wilson, John Hill, Richard Herbert, Robert Almond, Glen Dods, Duncan Cole, Steve Sumner, Keith McKay (Adrian Elrick 70), Grant Turner, Brian Turner (Clive Campbell 57), Steve Wooddin Coach: John Adshead Goals: G.Turner 24, Wooddin 34, Sumner 80	3	-	3	AUSTRALIA Alan Maher, Alan Davidson, Tony Henderson, Steve Blair, Steve Perry (John Yzendoorn 83), Eddie Krncevic, Billy Rogers, Murray Barnes, Ken Boden (Sebastian Giampaolo 68), John Kosmina, Peter Sharne Coach: Rudi Gutendorf Goals: Krncevic 15, 41, Boden 31
Australias path to the 1982 World Cup finals was via the Oceania qualifying group - the group consisting of New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan and Fiji. The winner of the group would go onto the next stage of qualification and most likely a play-off with an Asian opponent.
Saturday May 16 1981 Sydney Cricket Ground, Moore Park, Sydney, Australia Referee: Roger Courtney (England) Attendance: 15,000
AUSTRALIA Greg Woodhouse, Alan Davidson, John Yzendoorn, Steve Henderson, Steve Blair, Jim Tansey, Billy Rogers (Gary Cole 46), Murray Barnes, Eddie Krncevic (Ken Boden 64), Mark Jankovics, Peter Sharne Coach: Rudi Gutendorf	0	-	2	New Zealand Richard Wilson, John Hill, Richard Herbert, Robert Almond, Glen Dods, Duncan Cole, Steve Sumner, Keith McKay (Samuel Malcolmson 84), Grant Turner, Brian Turner (Clive Campbell 84), Steve Wooddin Coach: John Adshead Goals: Wooddin 30, G.Turner 83
One of the blackest days in Australian soccer with the Socceroos beaten 2-0 at home - the result effectively ending their World Cup aspirations. Coach Rudi Gutendorf resigning in the wake of the loss.
Wednesday May 20 1981 Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia Referee: Vitor Gacia-Oliva (Portugal) Attendance: 8,000
AUSTRALIA Alan Maher, Steve Perry (Peter Katholos 76), Steve Blair, John Yzendoorn, Jim Tansey, Murray Barnes, Tony Henderson, Alan Davidson, Peter Sharne, Gary Cole, John Kosmina Coach: Les Scheinflug Goals: Kosmina 29, Davidson 33	2	-	0	Indonesia Poerwono, Simson Rumah, Dharmadi Suharno, Suharno, Pattinasarany, Subangkit, Wakano, Nurdiansah, Effendy, Neri (Duaramuri 71), Tutuarima (Tonato Wahyu 46) Coach: Harry Tjong
Wednesday June 10 1981 Hindmarsh Stadium, Hindmarsh, Adelaide, Australia Referee: Vijit Getkaew (Thailand) Assistant Referees: Vichai Charupont and Nobnom Ausuxont (Thailand) Attendance: 4,651
AUSTRALIA Alan Maher, Robert Wheatley, Steve Blair, Tony Henderson, Alan Davidson, Gary Byrne, Peter Katholos, Murray Barnes (c), Eddie Krncevic, John Kosmina, David Mitchell Coach: Les Scheinflug Goals: Henderson 18, Kosmina 57, Byrne 68 pen	3	-	0	Taiwan Chin-Wang Lin (Chin-Wang Lin 26), Chie-Hsang Hau, Ing-ren Chen, Chang Sing, Dang-Shang Duh, Tson-Fu Chow, Chien-Wu Jong (Huey-Shyong Chang 66), Jaih-Tson Lo, Jausim Wu, Kuo-Chi Chang (c), Deng-Chyan Duh Coach: Herbert Stammler
Sunday July 26 1981 National Stadium, Suva, Fiji Referee: Tony Boskovic (Australia) Attendance: 11,000
Fiji Akuili Ravono, Jone Nakosia, Stan Morrell, Abraham Watkins, Ubendaran Choy, Mohammed Salim, Anand Sami, Meli Vullabasa, Abdul Manean, John Williams, Jone Ratu Coach: Wally Hughes Goal: Vullabasa 83	1	-	4	AUSTRALIA Alan Maher, Alan Davidson (Robert Wheatley 78), Alan Niven, Tony Henderson, Steve Blair, Gary Byrne, Murray Barnes, Peter Katholos, Peter Sharne, Gary Cole, David Mitchell Coach: Les Scheinflug Goals: Cole 4, 31, Barnes 10, Sharne 28
Friday August 14 1981 Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia Referee: A.Nobnom (Thailand) Attendance: 3,500
AUSTRALIA Martyn Crook, Alan Davidson, Steve Blair, Tony Henderson, Alan Niven, Murray Barnes, Gary Byrne, Peter Katholos, Peter Sharne, Gary Cole, David Mitchell Coach: Les Scheinflug Goals: Mitchell 28, 43, 80, Cole 37, 43, 54, 63, 70, 71, 76	10	-	0	Fiji Akuili Ravono, Jone Nakosia, Abraham Watkins, Unandaran Choy, Stan Morrell (Mohammed Salim 46) , Abdul Manean, Anand Sami, Meli Vullabasa, John Williams, Jone Ratu, Inosi Tora Coach: Wally Hughes
The ten goal rout of Fiji marked the final Socceroo appearance of Murray Barnes.
Sunday August 31 1981 Suribaya, Indonesia Referee: R.Reyes (Philippines) Attendance: 25,000
Indonesia Poerwono, Simson Rumah, Darmadi, H Asnan (N Salasa 70), Kiswanto, R Asnan, Ismanto, Abdulrachman, Risdianto, Nere, Sirey (D Sulaiman 46) Coach: Endang Witarsa Goal: Risdianto 88	1	-	0	AUSTRALIA Glen Ahearn, Robert Wheatley, Oscar Crino, Steve Blair, Brett Woods, Jimmy Patikas, Peter Raskopoulos, Paul Kay, Grant Lee, David Mitchell, Mark Koussas Coach: Les Scheinflug
Sunday September 6 1981 Taipei, Taiwan Referee: T.Gurkan (Philippines) Attendance: 7,000
Taiwan Chen Hung Chiang, Juang Jiunn Shiun, Hsu Chie Hsiang, Chen Sing, Chow Tson Fu, Yu Jiann Jeng, Jong Chien Wu, Duh Deng Sheng, Chen Ing Ren, Chang Ku Chi, Duh Deng Chyan Coach: Law Pak	0	-	0	AUSTRALIA Glen Ahearn, Robert Wheatley, Oscar Crino, Steve Blair, Howard Tredinnick, Peter Kay, Peter Raskopoulos, Jimmy Patikas, Grant Lee, David Mitchell, Mark Koussas Coach: Les Scheinflug

FIFA 1982 World Cup Oceania Group Final Standings
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	New Zealand	8	6	2	0	31	3	+28	14
2	AUSTRALIA	8	4	2	2	22	9	+13	10
3	Indonesia	8	2	2	4	5	14	-9	8
4	Taiwan	8	1	3	4	5	18	-13	5
5	Fiji	8	1	3	4	6	25	-19	5

 
Note: As Oceania Group winners, New Zealand advanced to the knockout stage while Australia were knocked out.

Last updated: 23 January 2024.