The 2023–24 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 8 to 23 August 2023.[1] A total of twenty teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide seven of the 36 places in the group stage of the 2023–24 AFC Cup.[2]
Teams
The following 20 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:
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.[3]
Schedule
Round
Match date
Preliminary round 1
8 August 2023
Preliminary round 2
15–16 August 2023
Play-off round
22–23 August 2023
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 seven winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the 29 direct entrants.
