The 2021 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 7 April to 15 August 2021.[1] A total of seven teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide three of the 38 places in the group stage of the 2021 AFC Cup.[2]
The following 7 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:
| 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 | ||||
| ASEAN Zone | ||||
| East Asia Zone | ||||
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.[2]
The schedule of each round was 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 | Cancelled | |
| Play-off round | Cancelled | 15 August 2021 | Cancelled |
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 one winner of preliminary round 2 (from ASEAN Zone) and one winner of the play-off round (from South Zone) advanced to the group stage to join the 35 direct entrants.[5]
A total of four teams played in the preliminary round 1.|+South Asia Zone
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A total of eight teams played in the preliminary round 2: six teams which entered in this round, and two winners of the preliminary round 1.|+South Asia Zone|+ASEAN Zone
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A total of eight teams played in the play-off round: four teams which entered in this round, and four winners of the preliminary round 2.|+West Asia Zone|+South Asia Zone|+ASEAN Zone
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