2021 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs
The 2021 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs will be played from 7 April to 19 May 2021.[1] A total of 14 teams will compete in the qualifying play-offs to decide four of the 39 places in the group stage of the 2021 AFC Cup.[2]
Teams
The following 14 teams, split into five zones (West Asia Zone, Central Asia Zone, South Asia Zone, ASEAN Zone, East Asia Zone), will enter the qualifying play-offs, consisting of three rounds:
- 4 teams enter in the preliminary round 1.
- 6 teams enter in the preliminary round 2.
- 4 teams enter in the play-off round.
Zone | Teams entering in play-off round | Teams entering in preliminary round 2 | Teams entering in preliminary round 1 |
---|---|---|---|
West Asia Zone | |||
South Asia Zone | |||
Central Asia Zone | None | ||
ASEAN Zone | |||
East Asia Zone | None |
Format
In the qualifying play-offs, each tie will be played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winner if necessary.[2]
Schedule
The schedule of each round is as follows.[1][3][4]
Round | West Asia Zone | South Asia Zone | ASEAN Zone |
---|---|---|---|
Preliminary round 1 | Not played | 7 April 2021 | Not played |
Preliminary round 2 | Not played | 14 April 2021 | 28 April 2021 |
Play-off round | 20 April 2021 | 21 April 2021 | 19 May 2021 |
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 four winners of the play-off round (one each from West Asia Zone and South Asia Zone, and two from ASEAN Zone) will advance to the group stage to join the 35 direct entrants.[5]
Play-off West Asia
- Winners will advance to Group C.
Play-off round | ||
20 April | ||
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Play-off South Asia
- Winners will advance to Group D.
Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||
14 April | ||||||||||
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7 April | ||||||||||
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21 April | ||||||||||
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14 April | ||||||||||
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7 April | ||||||||||
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- † Home team to be decided, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match.
Play-off ASEAN 1
- Winners will advance to Group G.
Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | |||||
19 May | ||||||
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28 April | ||||||
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Play-off ASEAN 2
- Winners will advance to Group H.
Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | |||||
19 May | ||||||
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28 April | ||||||
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Preliminary round 1
Summary
A total of four teams will play in the preliminary round 1.
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
---|---|---|
Nepal Army Club ![]() |
7 Apr (South Asia 1.1) | ![]() |
Eagles ![]() |
7 Apr (South Asia 1.2) | ![]() |
Preliminary round 2
Summary
A total of eight teams will play in the preliminary round 2: six teams which enter in this round, and two winners of the preliminary round 1.
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
---|---|---|
Bengaluru ![]() |
14 Apr (South Asia 2.1) | Winners of South Asia 1.1 |
Abahani Limited Dhaka ![]() |
14 Apr (South Asia 2.2) | Winners of South Asia 1.2 |
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
---|---|---|
Lao Toyota ![]() |
28 Apr (ASEAN 2.1) | ![]() |
Visakha ![]() |
28 Apr (ASEAN 2.2) | ![]() |
South Asia Zone
Bengaluru ![]() | v | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Abahani Limited Dhaka ![]() | v | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Play-off round
Summary
A total of eight teams will play in the play-off round: four teams which enter in this round, and four winners of the preliminary round 2.
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
---|---|---|
Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari ![]() |
20 Apr (West Asia 3.1) | ![]() |
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
---|---|---|
Winners of South Asia 2.1 | 21 Apr (South Asia 3.1)[†] | Winners of South Asia 2.2 |
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
---|---|---|
Hanthawady United ![]() |
19 May (ASEAN 3.1) | Winners of ASEAN 2.1 |
Persipura Jayapura ![]() |
19 May (ASEAN 3.2) | Winners of ASEAN 2.2 |
- † Home team to be decided, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match.
West Asia Zone
South Asia Zone
Winners of South Asia 2.1 ![]() | v | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Notes
References
- "AFC Competitions Calendar 2021". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 5 December 2019.
- "AFC Cup 2021 Competition Regulations" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation.
- "AFC Club Competitions' Group Stages to be played in centralised venues". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 25 January 2021.
- "2021 AFC Cup Preliminary & Playoff Stage match schedule". AFC.
- "AFC CUP 2021 Draw Mechanism". youtube.com. AFC. 26 January 2021.