The 2018 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 22 January to 20 February 2018.
[1] 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 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.
[1] 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.