The 2019 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 5 February to 13 March 2019. A total of 11 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide four of the 36 places in the group stage of the 2019 AFC Cup.
The following 11 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 four winners of the play-off round (one each from West Asia Zone, Central Asia Zone, South Asia Zone, East Asia Zone) advanced to the group stage to join the 32 direct entrants.<section end=Format />
The schedule of each round was as follows.
<section begin=Bracket /> The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each zone, determined based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the second leg, was officially announced by the AFC prior to the group stage draw on 22 November 2018.<section end=Bracket />
A total of six teams played in the preliminary round. <section begin=Preliminary round/>
|+Central Asia Zone
|+South Asia Zone
|+East Asia Zone
<section end=Preliminary round/>
Ahal won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Colombo won 9âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Ryomyong won 6âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
A total of eight teams played in the play-off round: five 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
|+East Asia Zone
<section end=Play-off round/>
Hilal Al-Quds won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
1âÂÂ1 on aggregate. Khujand won on away goals.
Chennaiyin won 1âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
0âÂÂ0 on aggregate. Tai Po won 5âÂÂ3 on penalties.