2019 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs


The 2019 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs were played from 5 to 19 February 2019. A total of 27 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide eight of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2019 AFC Champions League.

Teams

The following 27 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-Nasr
  • Al-Nassr
  • Al-Rayyan
  • Al-Gharafa
  • Zob Ahan
  • Saipa
  • AGMK
  • Pakhtakor
  • Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
  • Istiklol
  • Minerva Punjab
  • Al-Wehdat
  • Al-Kuwait
    • East Region
  • Ulsan Hyundai
  • Shandong Luneng
  • Sanfrecce Hiroshima
  • Kashima Antlers
  • Newcastle Jets
  • Chiangrai United
  • Bangkok United
  • Perak
  • Kitchee
  • Hà Nội
  • Ceres–Negros
  • Home United
  • Persija Jakarta
  • Yangon United

    • 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 slot entered the AFC Cup group stage.

    Schedule

    The schedule of each round is as follows.
    RoundMatch date
    Preliminary round 15 February 2019
    Preliminary round 212 February 2019
    Play-off round19 February 2019

    Bracket


    The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region, determined based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match, was officially announced by the AFC prior to the group stage draw on 22 November 2018. Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same tie.

    Play-off West 1

    • Pakhtakor advanced to Group D.

      Play-off West 2

    • Al-Nassr advanced to Group A.

      Play-off West 3

    • Al-Rayyan advanced to Group B.

      Play-off West 4

    • Zob Ahan advanced to Group A.

      Play-off East 1

    • Ulsan Hyundai advanced to Group H.

      Play-off East 2

    • Shandong Luneng advanced to Group E.

      Play-off East 3

    • Sanfrecce Hiroshima advanced to Group F.

      Play-off East 4

    • Kashima Antlers advanced to Group E.

      Preliminary round 1

    Summary

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

    West Region

    East Region

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    Preliminary round 2

    Summary

    A total of 16 teams played in the preliminary round 2: 13 teams which entered in this round, and three winners of the preliminary round 1.

    West Region

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    East Region

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    Play-off round

    Summary

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

    West Region

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    East Region

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