The 1981 King Cup was the 23rd season of the knockout competition since its establishment in 1956. Al-Hilal were the defending champions but were defeated by Al-Nassr in the final. Al-Nassr won their 3rd title overall and first since 1976.[1][2]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Saudi Arabia |
| Dates | 15 April – 14 May 1981 |
| Teams | 32 |
| Defending champions | Al-Hilal |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Al-Nassr (3rd title) |
| Runner-up | Al-Hilal |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 31 |
| Goals scored | 148 (4.77 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Toninho Hamad Al-Jaye'e Saud Jassem (5 goals each) |
Bracket
| Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Nahda (pen.) | 0 (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ansar | 0 (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Nahda | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Raed | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ta'alof | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Raed (a.e.t.) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Nahda | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ettifaq | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Fateh | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ettifaq | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Ettifaq (a.e.t.) | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Kawkab | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Shoulla | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Kawkab | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ettifaq | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Nassr (a.e.t.) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Jabalain | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Taawoun | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Jabalain | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Qadsiah | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Rabe'e | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Qadsiah | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Qadsiah | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Nassr | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ahli | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Tai | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Ahli | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Nassr | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Nassr | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Amal | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | Al-Nassr | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | Al-Hilal | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Rawdhah | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Khaleej | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Rawdhah | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Shate'e | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Nakhil | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Shate'e (a.e.t.) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Rawdhah | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Ittihad | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ittihad | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Arabi | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ittihad | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Shabab | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Shabab | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Ohod | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Ittihad | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Hilal | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Watani | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Riyadh | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Riyadh | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Faisaly | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Faisaly | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Hajer | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Riyadh | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Hilal | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Hilal | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Qala | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Hilal | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Wehda | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | Al-Dera'a | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| H | Al-Wehda | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Al Jazirah
Round of 32
The matches of the Round of 32 were held on 15, 16 and 17 April 1981.[3][4][5]
| Home team | Score | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Nassr | 14–0 | Al-Amal |
| Al-Ahli | 4–1 | Al-Tai |
| Al-Ettifaq | 6–1 | Al-Fateh |
| Al-Ta'alof | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Al-Raed |
| Al-Shate'e | 5–2 (a.e.t.) | Al-Nakhil |
| Al-Ittihad | 5–1 | Al-Arabi |
| Ohod | 2–4 | Al-Shabab |
| Al-Riyadh | 7–0 | Al-Watani |
| Hajer | 1–3 | Al-Faisaly |
| Al-Wehda | 12–0 | Al-Dera'a |
| Al-Hilal | 11–1 | Al-Qala |
| Al-Ansar | 0–0 (3–4 pen.) | Al-Nahda |
| Al-Jabalain | 2–0 | Al-Taawoun |
| Al-Rabe'e | 0–7 | Al-Qadsiah |
| Al-Khaleej | 2–4 | Al-Rawdhah |
| Al-Shoulla | 1–2 | Al-Kawkab |
Round of 16
The Round of 16 matches were held on 22, 23 and 24 April 1981.[6][7][8][9]
| Home team | Score | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Kawkab | 1–3 (a.e.t.) | Al-Ettifaq |
| Al-Nahda | 5–0 | Al-Raed |
| Al-Qadsiah | 2–0 | Al-Jabalain |
| Al-Ittihad | 1–0 | Al-Shabab |
| Al-Hilal | 3–1 | Al-Wehda |
| Al-Nassr | 1–0 | Al-Ahli |
| Al-Riyadh | 2–0 | Al-Faisaly |
| Al-Shate'e | 1–2 | Al-Rawdhah |
Quarter-finals
The Quarter-final matches were held on 30 April and 1 May 1981.[10][11][12]
| Home team | Score | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Rawdhah | 1–2 | Al-Ittihad |
| Al-Qadsiah | 1–5 | Al-Nassr |
| Al-Riyadh | 0–2 | Al-Hilal |
| Al-Ettifaq | 3–1 | Al-Nahda |
Semi-finals
The four winners of the quarter-finals progressed to the semi-finals. The semi-finals were played on 7 and 8 May 1981. All times are local, AST (UTC+3).
| Al-Ettifaq | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Al-Nassr |
|---|---|---|
Jorge  70' | Report | Al-Qassar 35' (o.g.) Abdullah 97' |
| Al-Ittihad | 1–2 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Beer 65' | Report | Al-Nu'eimeh 29' Al-Hathlool 36' |
Final
The final was played between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal in the Youth Welfare Stadium in Riyadh.[13][14] This was Al-Nassr's 6th final and Al-Hilal's 7th final. This was the first meeting between these sides in King Cup finals.
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Toninho | Al-Nassr | 5 |
| Hamad Al-Jaye'e | Al-Rawdhah | ||
| Saud Jassem | Al-Qadsiah | ||
| 4 | Majed Abdullah | Al-Nassr | 4 |
| Yousef Khamees | Al-Nassr | ||
 Néjib Limam | Al-Hilal | ||
| Jamal Mohammed | Al-Ettifaq |