The 1982 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Rome, Italy, at the Ippodromo delle Capannelle on March 21, 1982.

[1] Complete results for men,[2] junior men,[3] women,[4] medallists, [5] and the results of British athletes[6] were published.

In the senior men's competition, two-time defending champion Craig Virgin had traveled to Rome to defend his title, but was unable to race.

On the day before the contest, was sent to the hospital by ambulance, where he was hospitalized for six days with a swollen kidney and a massive urinary tract infection.

*   Host nation (Italy)An unofficial count yields the participation of 382 athletes from 33 countries.