The 2019 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 5 February to 13 March 2019.^[1] A total of 11 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide four of the 36 places in the group stage of the 2019 AFC Cup.^[2]

The following 11 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 two rounds:

• 6 teams entered in the preliminary round.
• 5 teams entered in the play-off round.

In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. 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 four winners of the play-off round (one each from West Asia Zone, Central Asia Zone, South Asia Zone, East Asia Zone) advanced to the group stage to join the 32 direct entrants.^[2]

The schedule of each round was as follows.^[1][3]

The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each zone, determined based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the second leg, was officially announced by the AFC prior to the group stage draw on 22 November 2018.^[4]

Play-off West Asia

• Hilal Al-Quds advanced to Group A.

	Play-off round
	Hilal Al-Quds	2	1	3
	Al-Nasr	1	0	1

Play-off Central Asia

• Khujand advanced to Group D.

	Preliminary round						Play-off round
	Alay	1	0	1
	Ahal	2	1	3
							Ahal	1	0	1
							Khujand (a)	1	0	1

Play-off South Asia

• Chennaiyin advanced to Group E.

	Preliminary round						Play-off round
	Colombo	7	2	9
	Transport United	1	1	2
							Colombo	0	0	0
							Chennaiyin	0	1	1

Play-off East Asia

• Tai Po advanced to Group I.

	Preliminary round						Play-off round
	Erchim	0	0	0
	Ryomyong	3	3	6
							Ryomyong	0	0	0 (3)
							Tai Po (p)	0	0	0 (5)