2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs


The 2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs were played from 16 to 30 January 2018. A total of 22 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide eight of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Champions League.

Teams

The following 22 teams, split into two regions, entered the qualifying play-offs, consisting of three rounds:
RegionTeams entering in play-off roundTeams entering in preliminary round 2Teams entering in preliminary round 1
West Region
  • Al-Ain
  • Zob Ahan
  • Al-Gharafa
  • Nasaf Qarshi
  • Pakhtakor
  • Al-Faisaly
  • Aizawl
  • Malkiya
East Region
  • Suwon Samsung Bluewings
  • Kashiwa Reysol
  • Shanghai SIPG
  • Tianjin Quanjian
  • Brisbane Roar
  • Chiangrai United
  • Muangthong United
  • Eastern
  • FLC Thanh Hóa
  • Johor Darul Ta'zim
  • Bali United
  • Shan United
  • Ceres–Negros
  • Tampines Rovers

    • Format


    In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary. The eight winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the 24 direct entrants. All losers in each round from associations with only play-off slots entered the AFC Cup group stage.

    Schedule

    The schedule of each round was as follows.
    RoundMatch date
    Preliminary round 116 January 2018
    Preliminary round 223 January 2018
    Play-off round30 January 2018

    Bracket


    The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was 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 could not be placed into the same play-off.

    Play-off West 1

    • Al-Ain advanced to Group D.

      Play-off West 2

    • Zob Ahan advanced to Group B.

      Play-off West 3

    • Al-Gharafa advanced to Group A.

      Play-off West 4

    • Nasaf Qarshi advanced to Group C.

      Play-off East 1

    • Suwon Samsung Bluewings advanced to Group H.

      Play-off East 2

    • Kashiwa Reysol advanced to Group E.

      Play-off East 3

    • Shanghai SIPG advanced to Group F.

      Play-off East 4

    • Tianjin Quanjian advanced to Group E.

      Preliminary round 1

    Summary

    A total of four teams played in the preliminary round 1.

    East Region

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    Preliminary round 2

    Summary

    A total of eight teams played in the preliminary round 2: six teams which entered in this round, and two winners of the preliminary round 1.

    East Region

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    Play-off round

    Summary

    A total of 16 teams played in the play-off round: twelve teams which entered in this round, and four winners of the preliminary round 2.

    West Region

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    East Region

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