2019 AFC Champions League
The 2019 AFC Champions League was the 38th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation, and the 17th under the current AFC Champions League title.
The winners of the competition, Al-Hilal qualified for the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar after beating Urawa Red Diamonds in the final.
Kashima Antlers were the defending champions, but were eliminated by Guangzhou Evergrande in the quarter-finals on away goals.
Association team allocation
The 46 AFC member associations were ranked, based on their national team's and clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions, with the allocation of slots for the 2019 and 2020 editions of the AFC club competitions determined by the 2017 AFC rankings :- The associations were split into two regions:
- *West Region consisted of the associations from the West Asian Football Federation, the Central Asian Football Association, and the South Asian Football Federation.
- *East Region consisted of the associations from the ASEAN Football Federation and the East Asian Football Federation.
- In each region, there were four groups in the group stage, including a total of 12 direct slots, with the 4 remaining slots filled through play-offs.
- The top 12 associations in each region as per the AFC rankings were eligible to enter the AFC Champions League, as long as they fulfill the AFC Champions League criteria.
- The top six associations in each region got at least one direct slot in the group stage, while the remaining associations get only play-off slots :
- *The associations ranked 1st and 2nd each got three direct slots and one play-off slot.
- *The associations ranked 3rd and 4th each got two direct slots and two play-off slots.
- *The associations ranked 5th each got one direct slot and two play-off slots.
- *The associations ranked 6th each got one direct slot and one play-off slot.
- *The associations ranked 7th to 12th each got one play-off slot.
- The maximum number of slots for each association was one-third of the total number of eligible teams in the top division.
- If any association gave up its direct slots, they were redistributed to the highest eligible association, with each association limited to a maximum of three direct slots.
- If any association gave up its play-off slots, they were annulled and not redistributed to any other association.
Association ranking
;Notes
Teams
The following 51 teams from 22 associations entered the competition.In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count only those since the 2002–03 season, when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League. TH means title holders.
| Team | Qualifying method | App |
 Al-Ain | 2017–18 UAE Pro-League champions 2017–18 UAE President's Cup winners | 14th |
| Al-Wahda | 2017–18 UAE Pro-League runners-up | 10th |
| Al-Wasl | 2017–18 UAE Pro-League 3rd place | 3rd |
 Al-Hilal | 2017–18 Saudi Professional League champions | 15th |
| Al-Ittihad | 2018 King Cup winners | 11th |
| Al-Ahli | 2017–18 Saudi Professional League runners-up | 11th |
 Al-Duhail | 2017–18 Qatar Stars League champions 2018 Emir of Qatar Cup winners | 8th |
| Al-Sadd | 2017–18 Qatar Stars League runners-up | 14th |
 Persepolis | 2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro League champions | 8th |
| Esteghlal | 2017–18 Hazfi Cup winners 2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro League 3rd place | 10th |
 Lokomotiv Tashkent | 2018 Uzbekistan Super League champions | 7th |
 Al-Zawraa | 2017–18 Iraqi Premier League champions | 4th |
| Team | Qualifying method | App |
| Zob Ahan | 2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro League runners-up | 8th |
| Saipa | 2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro League 4th place | 2nd |
| AGMK | 2018 Uzbekistan Cup winners | 1st |
| Pakhtakor | 2018 Uzbekistan Super League runners-up | 15th |
| Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 2017–18 Iraqi Premier League runners-up | 4th |
 Istiklol | 2018 Tajik League champions | 1st |
 Minerva Punjab | 2017–18 I-League champions | 1st |
| Team | Qualifying method | App |
 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2018 K League 1 champions | 12th |
| Daegu FC | 2018 Korean FA Cup winners | 1st |
| Gyeongnam FC | 2018 K League 1 runners-up | 1st |
 Shanghai SIPG | 2018 Chinese Super League champions | 4th |
| Beijing FC | 2018 Chinese FA Cup winners | 8th |
| Guangzhou Evergrande | 2018 Chinese Super League runners-up | 8th |
 Kawasaki Frontale | 2018 J1 League champions | 7th |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 2018 Emperor's Cup winners | 7th |
 Sydney FC | 2017–18 A-League premiers | 5th |
| Melbourne Victory | 2018 A-League Grand Final winners | 7th |
 Buriram United | 2018 Thai League 1 champions | 8th |
 Johor Darul Ta'zim | 2018 Malaysia Super League champions | 5th |
| Team | Qualifying method | App |
| Newcastle Jets | 2017–18 A-League regular season runners-up | 2nd |
| Chiangrai United | 2018 Thai FA Cup winners | 2nd |
| Bangkok United | 2018 Thai League 1 runners-up | 3rd |
| Perak | 2018 Malaysia Super League runners-up | 1st |
 Kitchee | 2017–18 Hong Kong Premier League champions | 5th |
 Hà Nội | 2018 V.League 1 champions | 5th |
;Notes
Schedule
The schedule of the competition is as follows.Qualifying play-offs
Preliminary round 1
Preliminary round 2
Play-off round
Group stage
| Tiebreakers |