User:Fauzannaufan/sandbox

The 2021 AFC Cup knockout stage will be played from 10 August to 26 November 2021. A total of 12 teams will compete in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2021 AFC Cup.

Qualified teams
The following teams advanced from the group stage:
 * The winners of each of the three groups and the best runners-up in the West Asia Zone (Groups A–C) and the ASEAN Zone (Groups G–I) advanced to the Zonal semi-finals.
 * The winners of each group in the South Asia Zone (Group D), and the East Asia Zone (Group J) advanced to the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals.
 * The winners of each group in the South Asia Zone (Groups E–F) advanced to the Zonal finals.

Format
 In the knockout stage, the 12 teams will play a single-elimination tournament. Each tie will be played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, except the ASEAN zonal semi-finals, the ASEAN zonal finals, and the final which will be played as a single match. The away goals rule (for two-legged ties), extra time (away goals do not apply in extra time) and penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winners if necessary (Regulations Article 9.3 and 10.1).

Schedule
The schedule of each round is as follows (W: West Asia Zone; C: Central Asia Zone; A: ASEAN Zone). Matches in the West Asia Zone will be played on Mondays and Tuesdays, while matches in the Central Zone, ASEAN Zone and the Inter-zone play-offs will be played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Bracket
The bracket of the knockout stage was determined as follows:

 The bracket will be decided after the draw for the Zonal finals and the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals 

Summary
 The West Asia Zonal semi-finals will be played over two legs, while the ASEAN Zonal semi-finals will be played over one leg, with the order of legs (West Asia Zone) or home team (ASEAN Zone) determined by the following tables based on which group runners-up qualify. If a group winner plays a group runner-up, the group winner hosts the second leg (West Asia Zone) or the match (ASEAN Zone). If two group winners play each other, one of the group winner (whose group runner-up qualify) hosts the second leg (West Asia Zone) or the match (ASEAN Zone).


 * West Asia Zone
 * If best runners-up from Group A
 * WSF1: Group C winners vs. Group A winners
 * WSF2: Group A runners-up vs. Group B winners
 * If best runners-up from Group B
 * WSF1: Group A winners vs. Group B winners
 * WSF2: Group B runners-up vs. Group C winners
 * If best runners-up from Group C
 * WSF1: Group B winners vs. Group C winners
 * WSF2: Group C runners-up vs. Group A winners


 * ASEAN Zone
 * If best runners-up from Group G
 * ASF1: Group G winners vs. Group I winners
 * ASF2: Group H winners vs. Group G runners-up
 * If best runners-up from Group H
 * ASF1: Group H winners vs. Group G winners
 * ASF2: Group I winners vs. Group H runners-up
 * If best runners-up from Group I
 * ASF1: Group I winners vs. Group H winners
 * ASF2: Group G winners vs. Group I runners-up


 * +West Asia Zone


 * +ASEAN Zone



Summary
 The West Asia and Central Asia Zonal finals will be played over two legs, while the ASEAN Zonal final will be played over one leg, with the order of legs (West Asia Zone and Central Asia Zone) or home team (ASEAN Zone) decided by draw. The winners of the West Asia Zonal final advanced to the final, while the winners of the Central Asia Zonal final and ASEAN Zonal final advanced to the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals.


 * Teams to be drawn


 * West Asia Zone
 * Winners of West Asia Zonal semi-final 1
 * Winners of West Asia Zonal semi-final 2


 * Central Asia Zone
 * Ahal
 * Nasaf


 * ASEAN Zone
 * Winners of ASEAN Zonal semi-final 1
 * Winners of ASEAN Zonal semi-final 2


 * +West Asia Zone


 * +Central Asia Zone


 * +ASEAN Zone



Summary
 In the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals, the four zonal winners other than the West Asia Zone play in two ties, i.e., the winners of the South Asia Zone (Group E), the winners of the East Asia Zone (Group I), the winners of the Central Zonal final, and the winners of the ASEAN Zonal final, with the matchups and order of legs decided by draw, without any seeding.


 * Teams to be drawn:
 * Winners of South Asia Zone (Group D)
 * Winners of Central Asia Zonal final
 * Winners of ASEAN Zonal final
 * Winners of East Asia Zone (Group J)



Summary
 In the Inter-zone play-off final, the two winners of the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals play each other, with the order of legs determined by the Inter-zone play-off semi-final draw. The winners of the Inter-zone play-off final advance to the final.



Final


The final will be played over one leg, between the winners of the West Asia Zonal final and the winners of the Inter-zone play-off final. The home team is determined on a rotation basis, with the match hosted by the winners of the West Asia Zonal final, as in the case of odd-numbered years (Regulations 9.1.2).

One-leg match (26 November 2021): Winners of West Asia Zonal final vs Winners of Inter-zone play-off final

