2018 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs

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.

Teams
The following 13 teams, split into five zones (West Asia Zone, Central Asia Zone, South Asia Zone, ASEAN Zone, East Asia Zone), entered the qualifying play-offs, consisting of two rounds:
 * 6 teams entered in the preliminary round.
 * 7 teams entered in the play-off round.

Format
 In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was 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 were used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 9.3). The five winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the 31 direct entrants. 

Schedule
The schedule of each round was as follows (W: West Asia Zone; C: Central Asia Zone; S: South Asia Zone; A: ASEAN Zone; E: East Asia Zone).

Bracket
 The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each zone was determined by the AFC based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the second leg. 

Play-off West Asia

 *  Al-Suwaiq advanced to Group A.

Play-off Central Asia

 * 🇹🇲 Ahal advanced to Group D.

Play-off South Asia

 * 🇮🇳 Bengaluru advanced to Group E.

Play-off ASEAN

 *  Boeung Ket Angkor advanced to Group F.

Play-off East Asia

 * 🇰🇵 Hwaebul advanced to Group I.

Summary
A total of six teams played in the preliminary round. 


 * +Central Asia Zone


 * +South Asia Zone



Central Asia Zone
Ahal won 5–3 on aggregate.

South Asia Zone
Bengaluru won 3–0 on aggregate.

TC Sports won 4–1 on aggregate.

Summary
A total of 10 teams played in the play-off round: seven teams which entered in this round, and three winners of the preliminary round. 


 * +West Asia Zone


 * +Central Asia Zone


 * +South Asia Zone


 * +ASEAN Zone


 * +East Asia Zone



West Asia Zone
Al-Suwaiq won 2–1 on aggregate.

Central Asia Zone
Ahal won 3–0 on aggregate.

South Asia Zone
Bengaluru won 8–2 on aggregate.

ASEAN Zone
Boeung Ket Angkor won 4–3 on aggregate.

East Asia Zone
Hwaebul won 7–0 on aggregate.