2018 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs
The 2018 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs are scheduled to be played from 22 January to 20 February 2018. A total of 11 teams compete in the qualifying play-offs to decide four of the 36 places in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Cup.
The following 11 teams, split into five zones (West Asia Zone, Central Asia Zone, South Asia Zone, ASEAN Zone, East Asia Zone), entered the qualifying play-offs, consisting of two rounds:
Originally 13 teams entered the qualifying play-offs (6 entered in the preliminary round, 7 entered in the play-off round) before the disqualification of teams in the ASEAN Zone.
In the qualifying play-offs, each tie is played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule, extra time (away goals do not apply in extra time) and penalty shoot-out are used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 9.3). The four winners of the play-off round advance to the group stage to join the 32 direct entrants.
The schedule of each round is as follows (W: West Asia Zone; C: Central Asia Zone; S: South Asia Zone; E: East Asia Zone).
The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each zone is determined by the AFC based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the second leg.
A total of 6 teams play in the preliminary round.
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