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.
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:
<section begin=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.<section end=Format />
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).
<section begin=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.<section end=Bracket />
A total of six teams played in the preliminary round. <section begin=Preliminary round/>
|+Central Asia Zone
|+South Asia Zone
<section end=Preliminary round/>
Ahal won 5âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Bengaluru won 3âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
TC Sports won 4âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
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. <section begin=Play-off round/>
|+West Asia Zone
|+Central Asia Zone
|+South Asia Zone
|+ASEAN Zone
|+East Asia Zone
<section end=Play-off round/>
Al-Suwaiq won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Ahal won 3âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Bengaluru won 8âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Boeung Ket Angkor won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Hwaebul won 7âÂÂ0 on aggregate.