# 2018 AFC Champions League

The 2018 AFC Champions League was the 37th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 16th under the current AFC Champions League title.
Kashima Antlers won the title for the first time, defeating Persepolis in the final, and qualified as the AFC representative at the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Urawa Red Diamonds were the title holders, but they were unable to defend their title as they finished seventh in the 2017 J1 League and were eliminated in the fourth round of the 2017 Emperor's Cup, thus did not qualify for the tournament. It marked the second season in a row without title holders after Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were disqualified in 2017 as a result of their involvement in a match-fixing scandal in 2016.

## Association team allocation

The AFC Competitions Committee proposed a revamp of the AFC club competitions on 25 January 2014, which was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee on 16 April 2014. The 46 AFC member associations (excluding the associate member Northern Mariana Islands) are ranked based on their national team's and clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions, with the allocation of slots for the 2017 and 2018 editions of the AFC club competitions determined by the 2016 AFC rankings (Entry Manual Article 2.2):
* The associations were split into two regions:
** West Region consists of the associations from the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA), and the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).
** East Region consists of the associations from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF).
* In each region, there are four groups in the group stage, including a total of 12 direct slots, with the 4 remaining slots filled through play-offs.
* The top 12 associations in each region as per the AFC rankings are eligible to enter the AFC Champions League, as long as they fulfill the AFC Champions League criteria.
* The top six associations in each region get at least one direct slot in the group stage, while the remaining associations get only play-off slots (as well as AFC Cup group stage slots):
** The associations ranked 1st and 2nd each get three direct slots and one play-off slot.
** The associations ranked 3rd and 4th each get two direct slots and two play-off slots.
** The associations ranked 5th each get one direct slot and two play-off slots.
** The associations ranked 6th each get one direct slot and one play-off slot.
** The associations ranked 7th to 12th each get one play-off slot.
* The maximum number of slots for each association is one-third of the total number of eligible teams in the top division.
* If any association gives up its direct slots, they are redistributed to the highest eligible association, with each association limited to a maximum of three direct slots.
* If any association gives up its play-off slots, they are annulled and not redistributed to any other association.
For the 2018 AFC Champions League, the associations are allocated slots according to their association ranking published on 30 November 2016, which takes into account their performance in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup, as well as their national team's FIFA World Rankings, during the period between 2013 and 2016.
Participation for 2018 AFC Champions League :
* Participating
* Not participating

### Notes

* ^ Australia (AUS): The top division run by the Football Federation Australia, the A-League, only have nine Australia-based teams in the 2016–17 season, so Australia can only get a maximum of three total slots (Entry Manual 5.4).
* ^ Iraq (IRQ): Iraq did not implement the AFC Champions League club licensing system.
* ^ Kuwait (KUW): Kuwait could not enter due to FIFA's suspension of the Kuwait Football Association at the entry deadline. (Even if its suspension were lifted, Kuwaiti clubs would not enter since Kuwait did not implement club licensing system.)
* ^ Lebanon (LIB): Lebanon did not implement the AFC Champions League club licensing system.
* ^ Saudi Arabia (KSA): Saudi Arabia had only two entries as Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad, the 2016–17 Saudi Professional League 3rd place and 4th place, which would have entered the group stage and qualifying play-offs respectively, failed to obtain an AFC licence, and no other teams below them in the league were eligible to replace them, as all other licensed teams from Saudi Arabia finished in the bottom half of the league and did not meet the sporting criteria (Entry Manual 12.6).
* ^ Syria (SYR): Syria did not implement the AFC Champions League club licensing system.

## Teams

The following 46 teams from 20 associations entered the competition.
In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count only those since the 2002–03 season (including qualifying rounds), when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League.
West Region :
| Team | Qualifying method | App (Last) |
| Al-Jazira | 2016–17 UAE Pro-League champions | 10th (2017) |
| Al-Wahda | 2016–17 UAE President's Cup winners | 9th (2017) |
| Al-Wasl | 2016–17 UAE Pro-League runners-up | 2nd (2008) |
| Al-Hilal | 2016–17 Saudi Professional League champions and 2017 King Cup winners | 14th (2017) |
| Al-Ahli | 2016–17 Saudi Professional League runners-up | 10th (2017) |
| Persepolis | 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League champions and 2017 Iranian Super Cup winners | 7th (2017) |
| Esteghlal | 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League runners-up | 9th (2017) |
| Tractor | 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League 3rd place | 5th (2016) |
| Al-Duhail | 2016–17 Qatar Stars League champions | 7th (2017) |
| Al-Sadd | 2017 Emir of Qatar Cup winners 2016–17 Qatar Stars League runners-up | 13th (2017) |
| Al-Rayyan | 2016–17 Qatar Stars League 3rd place | 8th (2017) |
| Lokomotiv Tashkent | 2017 Uzbek League champions and 2017 Uzbekistan Cup winners | 6th (2017) |
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in play-off round :
| Team | Qualifying method | App (Last) |
| Al-Ain | 2016–17 UAE Pro-League 4th place | 13th (2017) |
| Zob Ahan | 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League 4th place | 7th (2017) |
| Al-Gharafa | 2016–17 Qatar Stars League 5th place | 9th (2013) |
| Nasaf Qarshi | 2017 Uzbek League runners-up | 6th (2017) |
| Pakhtakor | 2017 Uzbek League 3rd place | 14th (2016) |
| Al-Faisaly | 2016–17 Jordan League champions | 2nd (2002–03) |
| Aizawl | 2016–17 I-League champions | 1st |
| Malkiya | 2016–17 Bahrain First Division League champions | 1st |
East Region :
| Team | Qualifying method | App (Last) |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2017 K League Classic champions | 11th (2016) |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2017 Korean FA Cup winners | 6th (2017) |
| Jeju United | 2017 K League Classic runners-up | 3rd (2017) |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 2017 J1 League champions | 6th (2017) |
| Cerezo Osaka | 2017 Emperor's Cup winners 2017 J1 League 3rd place | 3rd (2014) |
| Kashima Antlers | 2017 J1 League runners-up | 8th (2017) |
| Guangzhou Evergrande | 2017 Chinese Super League champions | 7th (2017) |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2017 Chinese FA Cup winners | 8th (2017) |
| Sydney FC | 2016–17 A-League premiers and 2017 A-League Grand Final winners | 4th (2016) |
| Melbourne Victory | 2016–17 A-League regular season runners-up | 6th (2016) |
| Buriram United | 2017 Thai League T1 champions | 7th (2016) |
| Kitchee | 2016–17 Hong Kong Premier League champions | 4th (2017) |
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in play-off round :
| Team | Qualifying method | App (Last) |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 2017 K League Classic 3rd place | 9th (2017) |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 2017 J1 League 4th place | 4th (2015) |
| Shanghai SIPG | 2017 Chinese Super League runners-up | 3rd (2017) |
| Tianjin Quanjian | 2017 Chinese Super League 3rd place | 1st |
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in preliminary round 2 :
| Team | Qualifying method | App (Last) |
| Brisbane Roar | 2016–17 A-League regular season 3rd place | 5th (2017) |
| Chiangrai United | 2017 Thai FA Cup winners | 1st |
| Muangthong United | 2017 Thai League T1 runners-up | 7th (2017) |
| Eastern | 2016–17 Hong Kong season play-off winners | 2nd (2017) |
| FLC Thanh Hóa | 2017 V.League 1 runners-up | 1st |
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 2017 Malaysia Super League champions | 4th (2017) |
Qualifying play-off participants: Entering in preliminary round 1 :
| Team | Qualifying method | App (Last) |
| Bali United | 2017 Liga 1 runners-up | 1st |
| Shan United | 2017 Myanmar National League champions | 1st |
| Ceres–Negros | 2017 Philippines Football League champions | 1st |
| Tampines Rovers | 2017 S.League runners-up | 4th (2017) |

### Notes

* ^ Indonesia (IDN): Bhayangkara, the 2017 Liga 1 champions, failed to obtain an AFC licence. As a result, Bali United, the league runners-up, entered the qualifying play-offs.
* ^ Iran (IRN): Naft Tehran, the 2016–17 Hazfi Cup winners, failed to obtain an AFC licence. As a result, Tractor, the 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League 3rd place, entered the groups stage instead of the qualifying play-offs, while Zob Ahan, the league 4th place, entered the qualifying play-offs.
* ^ Qatar (QAT): El Jaish, the 2016–17 Qatar Stars League 4th place, were merged into Lekhwiya to form Al-Duhail after the 2016–17 season. As a result, Al-Gharafa, the league 5th place, entered the qualifying play-offs.
* ^ Singapore (SIN): Albirex Niigata Singapore, the 2017 S.League champions, is a satellite team of Japanese club Albirex Niigata and thus ineligible to represent Singapore in AFC club competitions. As a result, Tampines Rovers, the league runners-up, entered the qualifying play-offs.
* ^ United Arab Emirates (UAE): Al-Ahli, the 2016–17 UAE Pro-League 3rd place, merged with Al-Shabab and Dubai to form Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai after the 2016–17 season, and were excluded from the AFC Champions League for failing to be in existence for the necessary three year requirement. As a result, Al-Ain, the league 4th place, entered the qualifying play-offs (initially they failed to obtain an AFC licence but later won their appeal).
* ^ Vietnam (VIE): Quảng Nam, the 2017 V.League 1 champions, failed to obtain an AFC licence. As a result, FLC Thanh Hóa, the league runners-up, entered the qualifying play-offs.

## Schedule

The schedule of the competition was as follows.
| Stage | Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
| Preliminary stage | Preliminary round 1 | No draw | 16 January 2018 | 16 January 2018 |
| Preliminary stage | Preliminary round 2 | No draw | 23 January 2018 | 23 January 2018 |
| Play-off stage | Play-off round | No draw | 30 January 2018 | 30 January 2018 |
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 6 December 2017 | 12–14 February 2018 | 12–14 February 2018 |
| Group stage | Matchday 2 | 6 December 2017 | 19–21 February 2018 | 19–21 February 2018 |
| Group stage | Matchday 3 | 6 December 2017 | 5–7 March 2018 | 5–7 March 2018 |
| Group stage | Matchday 4 | 6 December 2017 | 12–14 March 2018 | 12–14 March 2018 |
| Group stage | Matchday 5 | 6 December 2017 | 2–4 April 2018 | 2–4 April 2018 |
| Group stage | Matchday 6 | 6 December 2017 | 16–18 April 2018 | 16–18 April 2018 |
| Knockout stage | Round of 16 | 6 December 2017 | 7–9 May 2018 | 14–16 May 2018 |
| Knockout stage | Quarter-finals | 23 May 2018 | 27–29 August 2018 | 17–19 September 2018 |
| Knockout stage | Semi-finals | 23 May 2018 | 2–3 October 2018 | 23–24 October 2018 |
| Knockout stage | Final | 23 May 2018 | 3 November 2018 | 10 November 2018 |

## Qualifying play-offs

In 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 (Regulations Article 9.2). The eight winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the 24 direct entrants. All losers in each round from associations with only play-off slots entered the AFC Cup group stage.
The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was determined by the AFC 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 play-off.

### Preliminary round 1

East Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

### Preliminary round 2

East Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

### Play-off round

West Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
East Region :
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |

## Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 6 December 2017, 16:30 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four: four groups each in the West Region (Groups A–D) and the East Region (Groups E–H). Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group. In the group stage, each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the round of 16 of the knockout stage.
* Tiebreakers
* The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Article 10.5):
* Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
* Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
* Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
* Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
* If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
* Goal difference in all group matches;
* Goals scored in all group matches;
* Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are tied and they met in the last round of the group;
* Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
* Team from the higher-ranked association.

### Group A

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AHL | JAZ | GHA | TRA |
| 1 | Al-Ahli | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 14 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| 2 | Al-Jazira | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 8 | Advance to knockout stage | 1–2 | — | 3–2 | 0–0 |
| 3 | Al-Gharafa | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 8 | | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 3–0 |
| 4 | Tractor Sazi | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | −8 | 2 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | — |
* 1 2 Head-to-head results: Al-Jazira 3–2 Al-Gharafa, Al-Gharafa 2–3 Al-Jazira.

### Group B

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | DUH | ZOB | LOK | WAH |
| 1 | Al-Duhail | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 18 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Zob Ahan | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage | 0–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Lokomotiv Tashkent | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 7 | | 1–2 | 1–1 | — | 5–0 |
| 4 | Al-Wahda | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 15 | −9 | 3 | | 2–3 | 3–0 | 1–4 | — |
* 1 2 Head-to-head results: Zob Ahan 2–0 Lokomotiv Tashkent, Lokomotiv Tashkent 1–1 Zob Ahan.

### Group C

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | PER | SAD | NSF | WAS |
| 1 | Persepolis | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 13 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 |
| 2 | Al-Sadd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 12 | Advance to knockout stage | 3–1 | — | 4–0 | 2–1 |
| 3 | Nasaf Qarshi | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 10 | | 0–0 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 |
| 4 | Al-Wasl | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 10 | −7 | 0 | | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | — |

### Group D

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | EST | AIN | RAY | HIL |
| 1 | Esteghlal | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 12 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Al-Ain | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 10 | Advance to knockout stage | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| 3 | Al-Rayyan | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 6 | | 2–2 | 1–4 | — | 2–1 |
| 4 | Al-Hilal | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 2 | | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | — |

### Group E

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | JEO | TJQ | KSW | KIT |
| 1 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 9 | +13 | 15 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 6–3 | 3–2 | 3–0 |
| 2 | Tianjin Quanjian | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 11 | +4 | 13 | Advance to knockout stage | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 3–0 |
| 3 | Kashiwa Reysol | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 4 | | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 |
| 4 | Kitchee | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 14 | −13 | 3 | | 0–6 | 0–1 | 1–0 | — |

### Group F

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SSI | ULS | MEL | KAW |
| 1 | Shanghai SIPG | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 11 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 2–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| 2 | Ulsan Hyundai | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 11 | +4 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage | 0–1 | — | 6–2 | 2–1 |
| 3 | Melbourne Victory | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 16 | −5 | 8 | | 2–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–0 |
| 4 | Kawasaki Frontale | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 3 | | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — |

### Group G

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | GZE | BUR | CER | JEJ |
| 1 | Guangzhou Evergrande | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 6 | +6 | 12 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 1–1 | 3–1 | 5–3 |
| 2 | Buriram United | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 |
| 3 | Cerezo Osaka | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 8 | | 0–0 | 2–2 | — | 2–1 |
| 4 | Jeju United | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 11 | −5 | 3 | | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | — |

### Group H

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | SSB | KAS | SYD | SSH |
| 1 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 10 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 1–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| 2 | Kashima Antlers | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage | 0–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| 3 | Sydney FC | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 6 | | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–0 |
| 4 | Shanghai Shenhua | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 5 | | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — |

## Knockout stage

In the knockout stage, the 16 teams played a single-elimination tournament, with the teams split into the two regions until the final. 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 11.3).

### Bracket

The bracket was decided after the draw for the quarter-finals, which was held on 23 May 2018, 16:00 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | | | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Kashima Antlers | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shanghai SIPG | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shanghai SIPG | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | Kashima Antlers | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tianjin Quanjian | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Tianjin Quanjian (a) | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | Tianjin Quanjian | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Guangzhou Evergrande | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Guangzhou Evergrande | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | Kashima Antlers | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | | | |
| East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | Kashima Antlers | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | | | |
| East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | East Region | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | | | |
| Buriram United | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | | | |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 0 | 3 | 3 (2) | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (p) | 3 | 0 | 3 (4) | | | | | | | | | |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | Suwon Samsung Bluewings (p) | 3 | 0 | 3 (4) | | | | | | | | | |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | Kashima Antlers | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Persepolis | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zob Ahan | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Persepolis | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Esteghlal | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Esteghlal | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | Esteghlal | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Al-Sadd | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Al-Sadd | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | Al-Sadd | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Al-Ahli | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Al-Ahli | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | Al-Sadd | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | Al-Sadd | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | West Region | Persepolis | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| Al-Ain | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | Persepolis | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| Al-Duhail | 4 | 4 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Al-Duhail | 4 | 4 | 8 | | | Al-Duhail | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Persepolis | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| Al-Jazira | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | Persepolis | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| Persepolis (a) | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Round of 16

In the round of 16, the winners of one group played the runners-up of another group from the same region, with the group winners hosting the second leg, and the matchups determined by the group stage draw.
West Region :
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
East Region :
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |

### Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 23 May 2018. In the quarter-finals, the four teams from the West Region played in two ties, and the four teams from the East Region played in two ties, with the matchups and order of legs decided by draw, without any seeding or country protection.
West Region :
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
East Region :
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |

### Semi-finals

In the semi-finals, the two quarter-final winners from the West Region played each other, and the two quarter-final winners from the East Region played each other, with the order of legs determined by the quarter-final draw.
West Region :
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
East Region :
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |

### Final

In the final, the two semi-final winners played each other, with the order of legs (first leg hosted by team from the East Region, second leg hosted by team from the West Region) reversed from the previous season's final.
Kashima Antlers won 2–0 on aggregate.

## Awards
### Main awards

| Award | Player | Team |
| Most Valuable Player | Yuma Suzuki | Kashima Antlers |
| Top Goalscorer | Baghdad Bounedjah | Al-Sadd |
| Fair Play Award | — | Persepolis |
| Best Goal | Cheng Chin Lung | Kitchee |

### All-Star Squad

Source:
| Position | Player | Team |
| Goalkeeper | Kwoun Sun-tae | Kashima Antlers |
| Goalkeeper | Alireza Beiranvand | Persepolis |
| Goalkeeper | Shin Hwa-yong | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
| Defenders | Abdelkarim Hassan | Al-Sadd |
| Defenders | Rouzbeh Cheshmi | Esteghlal |
| Defenders | Gen Shoji | Kashima Antlers |
| Defenders | Jalal Hosseini | Persepolis |
| Defenders | Jung Seung-hyun | Kashima Antlers |
| Midfielders | Nam Tae-hee | Al-Duhail |
| Midfielders | Léo Silva | Kashima Antlers |
| Midfielders | Xavi | Al-Sadd |
| Midfielders | Kamal Kamyabinia | Persepolis |
| Midfielders | Kento Misao | Kashima Antlers |
| Midfielders | Bashar Resan | Persepolis |
| Midfielders | Park Jong-woo | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
| Midfielders | Elvis Sarić | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
| Forwards | Yuma Suzuki | Kashima Antlers |
| Forwards | Godwin Mensha | Persepolis |
| Forwards | Serginho | Kashima Antlers |
| Forwards | Kim Shin-wook | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Forwards | Ali Alipour | Persepolis |
| Forwards | Alexandre Pato | Tianjin Quanjian |
| Forwards | Dejan Damjanović | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
| Forwards | Baghdad Bounedjah | Al-Sadd |

### Opta Best XI

Source:
| Position | Player | Team |
| Goalkeeper | Alireza Beiranvand | Persepolis |
| Defenders | Li Xuepeng | Guangzhou Evergrande |
| Defenders | Shoja' Khalilzadeh | Persepolis |
| Defenders | Jalal Hosseini | Persepolis |
| Defenders | Lee Yong | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Midfielders | Ricardo Goulart | Guangzhou Evergrande |
| Midfielders | Xavi | Al-Sadd |
| Midfielders | Serginho | Kashima Antlers |
| Forwards | Dejan Damjanović | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
| Forwards | Baghdad Bounedjah | Al-Sadd |
| Forwards | Youssef El-Arabi | Al-Duhail |

### Fans' Best XI

Source:
| Position | Player | Team |
| Goalkeeper | Alireza Beiranvand | Persepolis |
| Defenders | Abdelkarim Hassan | Al-Sadd |
| Defenders | Shoja' Khalilzadeh | Persepolis |
| Defenders | Ró-Ró | Al-Sadd |
| Defenders | Voria Ghafouri | Esteghlal |
| Midfielders | Farshid Esmaeili | Esteghlal |
| Midfielders | Xavi | Al-Sadd |
| Midfielders | Siamak Nemati | Persepolis |
| Forwards | Ali Alipour | Persepolis |
| Forwards | Baghdad Bounedjah | Al-Sadd |
| Forwards | Mame Baba Thiam | Esteghlal |

## Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Team | MD1 | MD2 | MD3 | MD4 | MD5 | MD6 | 2R1 | 2R2 | QF1 | QF2 | SF1 | SF2 | F1 | Total |
| 1 | Baghdad Bounedjah | Al-Sadd | 2 | 2 | | 1 | 2 | | | 2 | 2 | 1 | | 1 | | 13 |
| 2 | Dejan Damjanović | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 2 | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 2 | | 1 | 1 | | 9 |
| 2 | Youssef El-Arabi | Al-Duhail | | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | 9 |
| 4 | Mame Baba Thiam | Esteghlal | | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | | 3 | | | | | | 7 |
| 4 | Ricardo Goulart | Guangzhou Evergrande | 1 | | 4 | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | 7 |
| 6 | Marcus Berg | Al-Ain | | 1 | 1 | | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | 6 |
| 6 | Kim Shin-wook | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | | | 3 | 1 | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | 6 |
| 6 | Romarinho | Al-Jazira | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | 6 |
| 9 | Adriano | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | | 3 | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | | 5 |
| 9 | Morteza Tabrizi | Zob Ahan (GS & R16) Esteghlal (QF) | | 1 | 2 | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | 5 |
| 9 | Serginho | Kashima Antlers | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 9 | Ali Mabkhout | Al-Jazira | 1 | 1 | | | 2 | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 9 | Muhannad Assiri | Al-Ahli | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 9 | Mehdi Taremi | Al-Gharafa | 1 | 2 | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 9 | Ali Alipour | Persepolis | 2 | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | 5 |
Note: Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4).
Source: AFC

## Player of the week awards

| Matchday | Toyota Player of the Week | Toyota Player of the Week |
| Matchday | Player | Team |
| Group stage |||
| Matchday 1 | Leroy George | Melbourne Victory |
| Matchday 2 | Oscar | Shanghai SIPG |
| Matchday 3 | Ricardo Goulart | Guangzhou Evergrande |
| Matchday 4 | Ali Khasif | Al-Jazira |
| Matchday 5 | Mislav Oršić | Ulsan Hyundai |
| Matchday 6 | Alan | Guangzhou Evergrande |
| Knockout stage |||
| Round of 16 1st leg | Edgar | Buriram United |
| Round of 16 2nd leg | Mame Baba Thiam | Esteghlal |
| Quarter-finals 1st leg | Dejan Damjanović | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
| Quarter-finals 2nd leg | Akram Afif | Al-Sadd |
| Semi-finals 1st leg | Alireza Beiranvand | Persepolis |
| Semi-finals 2nd leg | Dejan Damjanović | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
| Final 1st leg | Serginho | Kashima Antlers |
| Final 2nd leg | Kwoun Sun-tae | Kashima Antlers |