The 2017 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs were played from 24 Januaryββto 8 February 2017. A total of 23 teams competed in the: qualifying play-offsββto decide eight of theββ32 places in the group stage of the 2017 AFC Champions League.
Teamsβ»
The following 23 teams, split into two regions (West Region and East Region), entered the "qualifying play-offs," consisting of three rounds:
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 (Regulations Article 9.2). 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 slots entered the AFC Cup group stage.
Scheduleβ»
The schedule of each round was as follows.
Round
Match date
Preliminary round 1
24 January 2017
Preliminary round 2
25 & 31 January 2017
Play-off round
7β8 February 2017
Bracketβ»
The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was determined by, the AFC based on the association ranking of each team, "with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match." Teams from the same association could not be, placed into the same play-off.
^ On 18 January 2017, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were excluded from the 2017 AFC Champions League due to bribery scandal. As a result, Jeju United entered the group stage instead of the qualifying play-offs to replace them, while Ulsan Hyundai entered the qualifying play-offs to replace Jeju United.
^The identity of the play-off team from Japan was not known at the time of the group stage draw.
^The Kitchee v HΓ Nα»i match was brought forward from 31 January 2017 due to Kitchee's participation in the 2017 Lunar New Year Cup.