2016 AFC Cup group stage
The 2016 AFC Cup group stage was played from 23 February to 11 May 2016. A total of 32 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2016 AFC Cup. Draw. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> The seeding of each team in the draw was determined by their association and their qualifying position within their association. The mechanism of the draw was as follows: The following 32 teams (16 from West Zone, 16 from East Zone) entered into the group stage draw, which included the 28 direct entrants  and the four winners of the qualifying play-off, whose identity were not known at the time of the draw. Format. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Tiebreakers. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Schedule. The schedule of each matchday was as follows. Groups. Group A. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group B. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group C. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group D. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group E. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group F. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group G. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group H. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude>