2020 AFC Cup knockout stage
The 2020 AFC Cup knockout stage is scheduled to be played from 20 October to 12 December 2020. A total of 11 teams compete in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2020 AFC Cup.
On 9 July 2020, AFC announced schedule for 2020 AFC Cup knockout stage.
Qualified teams
The following teams advance from the group stage:- The winners of each of the three groups and the best runners-up in the West Asia Zone and the ASEAN Zone advance to the [|Zonal semi-finals].
- The winners of each group in the Central Asia Zone, the South Asia Zone, and the East Asia Zone advance to the [|Inter-zone play-off semi-finals].
| Key to colours |
| Teams which enter the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals |
| Teams which enter the Zonal semi-finals |
| Zone | Group | Winners | Best Runners-up | Qualified teams |
| West Asia Zone | A | |||
| West Asia Zone | B | |||
| West Asia Zone | C | |||
| Central Asia Zone | D | — | — | |
| South Asia Zone | E | — | — | |
| ASEAN Zone | F | |||
| ASEAN Zone | G | |||
| ASEAN Zone | H | |||
| East Asia Zone | I | — | — |
Format
In the knockout stage, the 11 teams play a single-elimination tournament. Each tie is played on a single-leg format.
Schedule
The schedule of each round is as follows.| Round | Date |
| Zonal semi-finals | 23–24 November 2020 20–21 October 2020 |
| Zonal finals | 1 December 2020 4 November 2020 |
| Inter-zone play-off semi-finals | 24–25 November 2020 |
| Inter-zone play-off final | 2 December 2020 |
| Final | 12 December 2020 |
Bracket
The bracket of the knockout stage is determined as follows:| Round | Matchups |
| Zonal semi-finals | ;West Asia Zone
|
| Zonal finals | ;West Asia Zone
|
| Inter-zone play-off semi-finals |
|
| Inter-zone play-off final |
|
| Final |
The bracket will be decided after the draw for the Zonal finals and the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals, which will be held after the group stage and the Zonal semi-finals are completed.
Zonal semi-finals
In the Zonal semi-finals, the four qualified teams from the West Asia Zone play in two ties, and the four qualified teams from the ASEAN Zone play in two ties, with the matchups determined by the group stage draw and the identity of the best runners-up.
;West Asia Zone
- If best runners-up from Group A
- *SF1: Winner Group A vs. Winner Group C
- *SF2: Runner-up Group A vs. Winner Group B
- If best runners-up from Group B
- *SF1: Winner Group B vs. Winner Group A
- *SF2: Runner-up Group B vs. Winner Group C
- If best runners-up from Group C
- *SF1: Winner Group C vs. Winner Group B
- *SF2: Runner-up Group C vs. Winner Group A
- If best runners-up from Group F
- *SF1: Winner Group F vs. Winner Group H
- *SF2: Runner-up Group F vs. Winner Group G
- If best runners-up from Group G
- *SF1: Winner Group G vs. Winner Group F
- *SF2: Runner-up Group G vs. Winner Group H
- If best runners-up from Group H
- *SF1: Winner Group H vs. Winner Group G
- *SF2: Runner-up Group H vs. Winner Group F
West Asia Zone
ASEAN Zone
----Zonal finals
In the Zonal finals, the two winners of West Asia Zonal semi-finals play each other, and the two winners of ASEAN Zonal semi-finals play each other, with the order of legs decided by draw. The winners of the West Asia Zonal final advance to the final, while the winners of the ASEAN Zonal final advance to the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals.
West Asia Zone
ASEAN Zone
Inter-zone play-off semi-finals
In the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals, the four zonal winners other than the West Asia Zone play in two ties, i.e., the winners of the Central Asia Zone, the winners of the South Asia Zone, the winners of the East Asia Zone, and the winners of the ASEAN Zonal final, with the matchups and order of legs decided by draw, without any seeding.
;Teams to be drawn
- Winner Group D
- Winner Group E
- Winner Group I
- Winner ASEAN Final
Inter-zone play-off final
In the Inter-zone play-off final, the two winners of the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals play each other, with the order of legs determined by the Inter-zone play-off semi-final draw. The winners of the Inter-zone play-off final advance to the final.
Final
In the final, the winners of the West Asia Zonal final and the winners of the Inter-zone play-off final play each other, with the host team alternated from the previous season's final.