[2] Starting from 2015, league champions of emerging countries were eligible to participate in the AFC Cup qualifying play-off.

[3] The last edition in 2014 saw HTTU Aşgabat defeat Rimyongsu of North Korea 2–1, and became the second consecutive team from Turkmenistan to win the competition.

[7] Qualification to the competition initially was for clubs from AFC-affiliated countries which fall into the AFC's emerging nations category as laid out in their Vision Asia document.

[9] Starting from 2015, league champions of "emerging countries" are eligible to participate in the AFC Cup qualifying play-off.

[11] After the rebrand in 2024, the new format comprised 18 participating clubs divided into four groups for the inaugural season.

The quarter and semi-finals are played over two legs, before the coveted final is staged over a single-leg contest.