2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs
The 2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs are played from 16 to 30 January 2018. A total of 22 teams compete in the qualifying play-offs to decide eight of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Champions League.
The following 22 teams, split into two regions (West Region and East Region), entered the qualifying play-offs, consisting of three rounds:
In the qualifying play-offs, each tie is played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out are used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 9.2). The eight winners of the play-off round advance to the group stage to join the 24 direct entrants. All losers in each round from associations with only play-off slots enter the AFC Cup group stage.
The schedule of each round is as follows.
The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region is determined by the AFC based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. Teams from the same association cannot be placed into the same play-off.
A total of 4 teams play in the preliminary round 1.
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