The final was played over two legs at the Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium, and at the Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal, between Anderlecht of Belgium and Benfica of Portugal.

Anderlecht won by an aggregate result of 2–1 to claim their first and only UEFA Cup title.

As of 2024, Anderlecht remains the only Belgian team to have won either the UEFA Cup or its successor tournament, the UEFA Europa League.

A total of 64 teams from 31 UEFA member associations participated in the 1982–83 UEFA Cup, all entering from the first round over six knock-out rounds.

The association ranking based on the UEFA country coefficients is used to determine the number of participating teams for each association: For the 1982–83 UEFA Cup, the associations are allocated places according to their 1981 UEFA country coefficients, which takes into account their performance in European competitions from 1976–77 to 1980–81.

1–1 on aggregate; KSC Lokeren won on away goals.

FK Sarajevo won 6–4 on aggregate.

Baník Ostrava won 4–1 on aggregate.

2–2 on aggregate; IFK Norrköping won on away goals.

3–3 on aggregate; Werder Bremen won on away goals.

Spartak Moscow won 8–4 on aggregate.

Spartak Moscow won 5–1 on aggregate.

3–3 on aggregate; Universitatea Craiova won on away goals.

1–1 on aggregate; Benfica won on away goals.