The 2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs were played from 16 to 30 January 2018. [1] 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. [2]
The following 22 teams, split into two regions (West Region and East Region), entered the qualifying play-offs, consisting of three rounds:
| Region | Teams entering in play-off round | Teams entering in preliminary round 2 | Teams entering in preliminary round 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Region | |||
| East Region |
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. [2]
The schedule of each round was as follows. [1]
| Round | Match date |
|---|---|
| Preliminary round 1 | 16 January 2018 |
| Preliminary round 2 | 23 January 2018 |
| Play-off round | 30 January 2018 |
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. [3]
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
 Al-Ain | 2 | |||||||||||||
 Malkiya | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
 Zob Ahan | 3 | |||||||||||||
 Aizawl | 1 | |||||||||||||
Al-Gharafa advanced to Group A.| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
| Al-Gharafa | 2 | |||||||||||||
 Pakhtakor | 1 | |||||||||||||
Nasaf Qarshi advanced to Group C.| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
| Nasaf Qarshi | 5 | |||||||||||||
 Al-Faisaly | 1 | |||||||||||||
Suwon Samsung Bluewings advanced to Group H.| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 5 | |||||||||||||
 FLC Thanh Hóa | 1 | |||||||||||||
 Eastern | 2 | |||||||||||||
| FLC Thanh Hóa | 4 | |||||||||||||
Kashiwa Reysol advanced to Group E.| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
| Kashiwa Reysol | 3 | |||||||||||||
 Muangthong United | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Muangthong United | 5 | |||||||||||||
 Johor Darul Ta'zim | 2 | |||||||||||||
Shanghai SIPG advanced to Group F.| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
| Shanghai SIPG | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Chiangrai United | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Chiangrai United (a.e.t.) | 2 | |||||||||||||
 Bali United | 3 | Bali United | 1 | |||||||||||
 Tampines Rovers | 1 | |||||||||||||
Tianjin Quanjian advanced to Group E.| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
| Tianjin Quanjian | 2 | |||||||||||||
 Ceres–Negros | 0 | |||||||||||||
 Brisbane Roar | 2 | |||||||||||||
 Shan United | 1 (3) | Ceres–Negros | 3 | |||||||||||
| Ceres–Negros (p) | 1 (4) | |||||||||||||
A total of four teams played in the preliminary round 1.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bali United | 3–1 | Tampines Rovers |
| Shan United | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) | Ceres–Negros |
| Bali United | 3–1 | Tampines Rovers |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Shan United | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Ceres–Negros |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report | |
| Penalties | ||
| 3–4 | ||
A total of eight teams played in the preliminary round 2: six teams which entered in this round, and two winners of the preliminary round 1.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 2–4 | FLC Thanh Hóa |
| Muangthong United | 5–2 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
| Chiangrai United | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Bali United |
| Brisbane Roar | 2–3 | Ceres–Negros |
| Eastern | 2–4 | FLC Thanh Hóa |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Muangthong United | 5–2 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
|
A total of 16 teams played in the play-off round: twelve teams which entered in this round, and four winners of the preliminary round 2.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Ain | 2–0 | Malkiya |
| Zob Ahan | 3–1 | Aizawl |
| Al-Gharafa | 2–1 | Pakhtakor |
| Nasaf Qarshi | 5–1 | Al-Faisaly |
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 5–1 | FLC Thanh Hóa |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 3–0 | Muangthong United |
| Shanghai SIPG | 1–0 | Chiangrai United |
| Tianjin Quanjian | 2–0 | Ceres–Negros |
| Zob Ahan | 3–1 | Aizawl |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Al-Gharafa | 2–1 | Pakhtakor |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Nasaf Qarshi | 5–1 | Al-Faisaly |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 5–1 | FLC Thanh Hóa |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Tianjin Quanjian | 2–0 | Ceres–Negros |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
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