The 2016 AFC Cup qualifying play-off was played on 9 February 2016. [1] A total of eight teams competed in the qualifying play-off to decide four of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2016 AFC Cup. [2]
The following eight teams (all from West Zone) entered the qualifying play-off, which consisted of one round only (play-off round): [3]
| Zone | Teams entering in play-off round |
|---|---|
| West Zone |
No qualifying play-off was held in the East Zone due to lack of teams (all teams directly entered the group stage).
In the qualifying play-off, each tie was played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 10.2). The four winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the 28 direct entrants. [2]
The schedule of each round was as follows. [1]
| Round | Match date |
|---|---|
| Play-off round | 9 February 2016 |
The bracket of the qualifying play-off was determined by the AFC based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting each match. [4] [5]
| Play-off round | |||
 Al-Hidd | 2 | ||
 K-Electric | 0 | ||
| Play-off round | |||
 Tripoli (p) | 0 (7) | ||
 Alay Osh | 0 (6) | ||
| Play-off round | |||
 Al-Wahda | 2 | ||
 Balkan | 0 | ||
Ahli Al-Khaleel advanced to Group D.
| Play-off round | |||
 Ahli Al-Khaleel | 1 | ||
 Khujand | 0 | ||
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| West Zone | ||
| Al-Hidd | 2–0 | K-Electric |
| Tripoli | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (7–6 p) | Alay Osh |
| Al-Wahda | 2–0 | Balkan |
| Ahli Al-Khaleel | 1–0 | Khujand |
| Tripoli | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Alay Osh |
|---|---|---|
| Report | ||
| Penalties | ||
Helegbe  Ali Estanbelli El Hussein Taleb Diab Fattouh | 7–6 | Sylla Rustamov Alimov Rakhmonov Kydyraliev Zholdoshov  Akhmedov |
| Al-Wahda | 2–0 | Balkan |
|---|---|---|
Rafe  17'Mobayed 53' | Report |
| Ahli Al-Khaleel | 1–0 | Khujand |
|---|---|---|
| Wadi 22' | Report |
| Al-Hidd | 2–0 | K-Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Omosuyi 55' Hasan 90+3' | Report |
The 2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off was contested by nine teams.
The 2015 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off was played from 4 to 17 February 2015. A total of 25 teams competed in the qualifying play-off to decide eight of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2015 AFC Champions League.
The 2015 AFC Cup qualifying play-off was played from 9 to 17 February 2015. A total of 14 teams competed in the qualifying play-off to decide five of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2015 AFC Cup.
The 2016 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off was played from 27 January to 9 February 2016. A total of 21 teams competed in the qualifying play-off to decide eight of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2016 AFC Champions League.
The 2016 AFC Cup group stage was played from 23 February to 11 May 2016. A total of 32 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2016 AFC Cup.
The 2016 AFC Cup knockout stage was played from 24 May to 5 November 2016. A total of 16 teams competed in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2016 AFC Cup.
The play-off round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification was played from 2 June to 11 October 2016.
The 2017 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs were played from 24 January to 8 February 2017. A total of 23 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide eight of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2017 AFC Champions League.
The 2017 AFC Cup group stage was played from 20 February to 31 May 2017. A total of 34 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 11 places in the knockout stage of the 2017 AFC Cup.
The 2017 AFC Cup knockout stage was played from 16 May to 4 November 2017. A total of 11 teams competed in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2017 AFC Cup.
The 2017 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 30 January to 28 February 2017. A total of 14 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide five of the 34 places in the group stage of the 2017 AFC Cup.
The 2018 AFC Cup group stage was played from 10 February to 16 May 2018. A total of 36 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 11 places in the knockout stage of the 2018 AFC Cup.
The 2018 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 22 January to 20 February 2018. A total of 13 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide five of the 36 places in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Cup.
The 2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs were played from 16 to 30 January 2018. A total of 22 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide eight of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Champions League.
The 2019 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 5 February to 13 March 2019. A total of 11 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide four of the 36 places in the group stage of the 2019 AFC Cup.
The 2019 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs were played from 5 to 19 February 2019. A total of 27 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide eight of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2019 AFC Champions League.
The third round of AFC matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification was played from 2 September 2021 to 29 March 2022.
The 2020 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 21 January to 26 February 2020, before the remaining matches were suspended, and eventually cancelled by the AFC on 10 September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the original competition format, a total of 19 teams would compete in the qualifying play-offs to decide seven of the 36 places in the group stage of the 2020 AFC Cup.
The 2020 AFC Cup group stage was played from 10 February to 11 March 2020, before the remaining matches were initially suspended, and eventually cancelled by the AFC on 10 September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the original competition format, a total of 36 teams would compete in the group stage to decide the 11 places in the knockout stage of the 2020 AFC Cup.
The 2021 AFC Cup knockout stage was played from 25 August to 5 November 2021. A total of 8 teams competed in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2021 AFC Cup. Teams from ASEAN Zone did not compete in the knockout stage, due to the cancellation of group stage matches in ASEAN Zone.