The 1980 AFC Asian Cup was held in September 1980 in Kuwait, and Bangladesh were grouped with defending champions Iran as well as North Korea, Syria and China. The Bangladeshis opened the tournament respectably with narrow defeats to the North Koreans (3–2) and Syrians (1–0) but were embarrassed 7–0 and 6–0 respectively by Iran and China, finishing the tournament bottom of their table with a goal difference of −15. This was the only time that Bangladesh have qualified for a major tournament.