2018 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs


The 2018 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 22 January to 20 February 2018. A total of 13 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide five of the 36 places in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Cup.
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Teams

The following 13 teams, split into five zones, entered the qualifying play-offs, consisting of two rounds:
  • 6 teams entered in the [|preliminary round].
  • 7 teams entered in the [|play-off round].
ZoneTeams entering in play-off roundTeams entering in preliminary round
West Asia Zone

Format


In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule, extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary. The five winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the 31 direct entrants.

Schedule

The schedule of each round was as follows.

Bracket


The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each zone was determined by the AFC based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the second leg.

Play-off West Asia

Play-off Central Asia

Play-off South Asia

Play-off ASEAN

Play-off East Asia

Preliminary round

Summary

A total of six teams played in the preliminary round.


Central Asia Zone

''Ahal won 5–3 on aggregate.''

South Asia Zone

Bengaluru won 3–0 on aggregate.
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''TC Sports won 4–1 on aggregate.''

Play-off round

Summary

A total of 10 teams played in the play-off round: seven teams which entered in this round, and three winners of the preliminary round.


West Asia Zone

''Al-Suwaiq won 2–1 on aggregate.''

Central Asia Zone

''Ahal won 3–0 on aggregate.''

South Asia Zone

''Bengaluru won 8–2 on aggregate.''

ASEAN Zone

''Boeung Ket Angkor won 4–3 on aggregate.''

East Asia Zone

''Hwaebul won 7–0 on aggregate.''