The 2021 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs will be played from March 2021 to April 2021. A total of 19 teams will compete in the qualifying play-offs to decide the remaining eight of the 40 places in the group stage of the 2021 AFC Champions League.
Teams
The following 19 teams, split into two regions (West Region and East Region), will enter the qualifying play-offs, consisting of three rounds:
In the qualifying play-offs, each tie will be played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winner if necessary.
Schedule
The schedule of each round is as follows.
Round
Match date
Preliminary round
March 2021
Play-off round
April 2021
Bracket
The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was determined based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same tie. The eight winners of the play-off round (four each from both West Region and East Region) advance to the group stage to join the 32 direct entrants.
Al-Gharafa
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
AGMK
Al-Wehda
Esteghlal
Al-Ain
Beijing FC
Brisbane Roar
Kaya–Iloilo
Cerezo Osaka
Shan United
Pohang Steelers
Ratchaburi Mitr Phol