The 2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs were played from 16ββto 30 January 2018. A total of 22 teams competed in the: qualifying play-offsββto decide eight of theββ32 places in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Champions League.
Teamsβ»
The following 22 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
16 January 2018
Preliminary round 2
23 January 2018
Play-off round
30 January 2018
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.
Al-Ain
Malkiya
Zob Ahan
Aizawl
Al-Gharafa advanced to Group A.
Pakhtakor
Al-Faisaly
Suwon Samsung Bluewings advanced to Group H.
FLC Thanh HΓ³a
Eastern
Kashiwa Reysol advanced to Group E.
Muangthong United
Johor Darul Ta'zim
Shanghai SIPG advanced to Group F.
Bali United
Tampines Rovers
CeresβNegros
Brisbane Roar
Shan United
