| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host nation |  Japan |
| Dates | 19–28 November |
| Teams | 8 |
| Venue(s) | 4 (in 4 host cities) |
| Champions |  Soviet Union (3rd title) |
| Runners-up |  Cuba |
| Third place |  Brazil |
| Fourth place |  Poland |
| Tournament awards | |
| MVP | Vyacheslav Zaytsev |
The 1981 FIVB Men's World Cup was held from 19 to 28 November 1981 in Japan. It was the 4th edition of the competition.