2020 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs


The 2020 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs have been played from 21 January 2020. A total of 19 teams compete in the qualifying play-offs to decide the seven of the 36 places in the group stage of the 2020 AFC Cup.

Teams

The following 19 teams, split into five zones, enter the qualifying play-offs, consisting of three rounds:
ZoneTeams entering in play-off roundTeams entering in preliminary round 2Teams entering in preliminary round 1
West Asia Zone
Central Asia Zone
  • Khujand
  • Ahal
  • Neftchi
    • South Asia Zone
  • Bengaluru
  • Maziya
  • Abahani Limited Dhaka
  • Paro
  • Defenders
    • ASEAN Zone
  • PSM Makassar
  • Yangon United
  • Master 7
  • Svay Rieng
  • Indera
  • Lalenok United
    • East Asia Zone
  • Taipower
  • Ulaanbaatar City

    • Format


    In the qualifying play-offs, each tie is played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule, extra time and penalty shoot-out are used to decide the winner if necessary.

    Schedule

    The schedule of each round is as follows.
    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, matches in the East Asia Zone had not been played before the AFC announced on 18 March 2020 that all matches would be postponed until further notice.

    Bracket


    The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each zone was determined based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the second leg. The seven winners of the play-off round advance to the group stage to join the 29 direct entrants.

    Play-off West Asia

    • Hilal Al-Quds advanced to Group A.

      Play-off Central Asia

    • Khujand advanced to Group D.

      Play-off South Asia

    • Maziya advanced to Group E.

      Play-off ASEAN 1

    • PSM Makassar advanced to Group H.

      Play-off ASEAN 2

    • Yangon United advanced to Group F.

      Play-off ASEAN 3

    • Svay Rieng advanced to Group G.

      Play-off East Asia

    • Winners advance to Group I.

      Preliminary round 1

    Summary

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

    South Asia Zone

    5–5 on aggregate. Paro won on away goals.

    Preliminary round 2

    Summary

    A total of 8 teams play in the preliminary round 2: seven teams which enter in this round, and one winner of the preliminary round 1.

    ;Notes

    Central Asia Zone

    Neftchi won on walkover after Ahal were disqualified by the AFC for failing to appear for the first leg.

    South Asia Zone

    Bengaluru won 10–1 on aggregate.
    ----
    2–2 on aggregate. Maziya won on away goals.

    Play-off round

    Summary

    A total of 14 teams play in the play-off round: ten teams which enter in this round, and four winners of the preliminary round 2.

    West Asia Zone

    Hilal Al-Quds won 2–0 on aggregate.

    Central Asia Zone

    Khujand won 3–1 on aggregate.

    South Asia Zone

    4–4 on aggregate. Maziya won 4–3 on penalties.

    ASEAN Zone

    PSM Makassar won 7–2 on aggregate.
    ----
    Yangon United won 9–2 on aggregate.
    ----
    Svay Rieng won 7–1 on aggregate.

    East Asia Zone