2021 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs

The 2021 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 7 April to 15 August 2021. A total of seven teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide three of the 38 places in the group stage of the 2021 AFC Cup.

Teams
The following 7 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 three rounds:
 * 4 teams entered in the preliminary round 1.
 * 3 teams entered in the preliminary round 2.

Format
 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. 

Schedule
The schedule of each round was as follows.

Bracket
 The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each zone was determined based on each team's association ranking, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. The one winner of preliminary round 2 (from ASEAN Zone) and one winner of the play-off round (from South Zone) advanced to the group stage to join the 35 direct entrants. 

Play-off West Asia

 * Both teams advanced to Group C.

Play-off South Asia

 * Bengaluru advanced to Group D.

Play-off ASEAN 1

 * Winners of Preliminary round 2 would have advanced to Group G.

Play-off ASEAN 2

 * Persipura Jayapura advanced to Group H, while Visakha and  Lalenok United advanced to Group I.

Summary
A total of four teams played in the preliminary round 1. 


 * +South Asia Zone



Summary
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. 


 * +South Asia Zone


 * +ASEAN Zone



Summary
A total of eight teams played in the play-off round: four teams which entered in this round, and four winners of the preliminary round 2. 


 * +West Asia Zone


 * +South Asia Zone


 * +ASEAN Zone

