The 2019 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs are scheduled to be played from 19 February to 13 March 2019.[1] A total of at most 23 teams (exact number to be confirmed) compete in the qualifying play-offs to decide at most nine of the 36 places in the group stage of the 2019 AFC Cup.[2]
Teams
The teams entering the qualifying play-offs are split into five zones (West Asia Zone, Central Asia Zone, South Asia Zone, ASEAN Zone, East Asia Zone), consisting of two rounds:
In the qualifying play-offs, each tie is played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule, extra time (away goals do not apply in extra time) and penalty shoot-out are used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 9.3). The winners of the play-off round advance to the group stage to join the direct entrants.[2]
Schedule
The schedule of each round is as follows (W: West Asia Zone; C: Central Asia Zone; S: South Asia Zone; A: ASEAN Zone; E: East Asia Zone).[1]
Round
W, A
C, S, E
First leg
Second leg
First leg
Second leg
Preliminary round
Not played
19–20 February 2019
26–27 February 2019
Play-off round
5–6 February 2019
12–13 February 2019
5–6 March 2019
12–13 March 2019
Bracket
The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each zone will be officially announced by the AFC prior to the group stage draw on 22 November 2018, and is determined based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the second leg.