The 2022 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 5 to 19 April 2022.[1] A total of ten teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide three of the 39 places in the group stage of the 2022 AFC Cup.[2]
Teams
editThe following 10 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:
- 4 teams entered in the preliminary round 1.
- 2 teams entered in the preliminary round 2.
- 4 teams entered in the play-off.
| Zone | Teams entering in play-off round | Teams entering in preliminary round 2 | Teams entering in preliminary round 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Asia Zone | None
| ||
| South Asia Zone | |||
| Central Asia Zone | None
| ||
| ASEAN Zone | |||
| East Asia Zone | |||
Format
editIn 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]
Schedule
editThe schedule of each round was as follows.[1]
| Round | Match date | |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary round 1 | 5 April 2022 | |
| Preliminary round 2 | 12 April 2022 | |
| Play-off round | 19 April 2022 | |
Bracket
editThe 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 three winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the 36 direct entrants.
South Asia play-off
edit
ATK Mohun Bagan advanced to Group D.
ASEAN play-off
edit
Visakha FC advanced to Group G and 
Young Elephants advanced to Group I.[note 2]
| Play-off round | ||
| Visakha FC | — | |
| Young Elephants | — | |
East Asia play-off
edit| Play-off round | ||
 Lee Man | 2 | |
 Athletic 220 | 1 | |
Preliminary round 1
editSummary
editA total of four teams played in the preliminary round 1.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
Machhindra 
|
1–2 |  Blue Star
|
Valencia 
|
2–1 (a.e.t.) |  Paro
|
South Asia Zone
edit| Machhindra | 1–2 | Blue Star |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Preliminary round 2
editSummary
editA total of four teams played in the preliminary round 2: two teams which entered in this round, and two winners of the preliminary round 1.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| ATK Mohun Bagan
|
5–0 | Blue Star
|
Abahani Limited Dhaka 
|
Cancelled[note 1] | Valencia
|
South Asia Zone
edit| Abahani Limited Dhaka | Cancelled[note 1] | Valencia |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Play-off round
editSummary
editA total of six teams played in the play-off round: four teams which entered in this round, and two winners of the preliminary round 2.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| ATK Mohun Bagan
|
3–1 | Abahani Limited Dhaka
|
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Visakha FC
|
Cancelled[note 2] | Young Elephants
|
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Man
|
2–1 | Athletic 220
|
South Asia Zone
edit| ATK Mohun Bagan | 3–1 | Abahani Limited Dhaka |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
ASEAN Zone
editEast Asia Zone
edit| Lee Man | 2–1 | Athletic 220 |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Notes
edit- ^ a b c On 11 April 2022, the AFC announced that Valencia withdrew from the preliminary stage of the qualification, citing financial constraints. Abahani Limited Dhaka advanced to the play-off round.[3][4]
- ^ a b c d e On 19 January 2022, the AFC announced that the two teams from Myanmar, Shan United and Hanthawaddy United, withdrew from the group stage after the draw.[5] As a result, on 1 March 2022, the AFC decided to cancel the ASEAN zone play-off round match between Visakha FC and Young Elephants, and promote both the participating teams to the group stage to fill the vacant group stage spots.[6]
- ^ After the 2021–22 Hong Kong Premier League season was cancelled on 25 February 2022, due to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spread in Hong Kong,[7] the Hong Kong clubs announced that they would train overseas for their respective Asian campaigns. Hence, Lee Man asked their playoff round match against Athletic 220 to be moved to a different venue, which was later decided to be Athletic 220's home venue MFF Football Centre in Ulaanbaatar.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b "AFC Competitions Calendar 2022" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
- ^ a b "AFC Cup 2022 Competition Regulations" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
- ^ "Latest update on the AFC Cup 2022". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ "Uncertainty over Club Valencia's arrival". The Daily Star. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ "AFC confirms the withdrawal of Myanmar clubs". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ "AFC's decision on withdrawal of Myanmar clubs". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ "Arrangement of 2021-2022 BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League and cup matches". Hong Kong Football Association. 25 February 2022.
- ^ Chan, Kin-wa (1 March 2022). "Hong Kong side Lee Man follow Kitchee's lead, head overseas to train for AFC Cup campaign". South China Morning Post.