2018 AFC Cup knockout stage
The 2018 AFC Cup knockout stage is scheduled to be played from 7 May to 27 October 2018. A total of 11 teams compete in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2018 AFC Cup.
The following teams advance from the group stage:
In the knockout stage, the 11 teams play a single-elimination tournament, with the teams split into the five zones until the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals. Each tie is played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, except the final which is played as a single match. The away goals rule (for two-legged ties), extra time (away goals do not apply in extra time) and penalty shoot-out are used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 11.3).
The schedule of each round is as follows (W: West Asia Zone; A: ASEAN Zone). Matches in the West Asia Zone were played on Mondays and Tuesdays, while matches in the ASEAN Zone and the Inter-zone play-offs are played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The bracket of the knockout stage is determined as follows:
The bracket will be decided after the draw for the knockout stage.
In the Zonal semi-finals, the four qualified teams from the West Asia Zone (Groups A–C) play in two ties, and the four qualified teams from the ASEAN Zone (Groups F–H) play in two ties, with the matchups and order of legs determined by the identity of the best runner-up.
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