In each zone, the number of groups in the group stage is determined based on the number of entries, with the number of slots filled through play-offs same as the number of groups:
In the West Europe Zone and the East Europe Zone, there are three groups in the group stage, including a total of 9 direct slots, with the 3 remaining slots filled through play-offs.
In the Central Europe Zone, the South Europe Zone, and the North Europe Zone, there is one group in the group stage, including a total of 3 direct slots, with the 1 remaining slot filled through play-offs.
The top associations participating in the AFC Cup in each zone as per the AFC rankings get at least one direct slot in the group stage (including losers of the AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs), while the remaining associations get only play-off slots:
For the West Europe Zone and the East Europe Zone:
The associations ranked 1st to 3rd each get two direct slots.
The associations ranked 4th to 6th each get one direct slot and one play-off slot.
The associations ranked 7th or below each get one play-off slot.
For the Central Europe Zone, the South Europe Zone, and the North Europe Zone:
The associations ranked 1st to 3rd each get one direct slot and one play-off slot.
The associations ranked 4th or below 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 two direct slots.
If any association gives up its play-off slots, they are annulled and not redistributed to any other association.
If the number of teams in the play-offs in any zone is fewer than twice the number of group stage slots filled through play-offs, the play-off teams of the highest eligible associations are given byes to the group stage.
The schedule of the competition was as follows (W: West Europe Zone; C: Central Europe Zone; S: South Europe Zone; E: East Europe Zone; N: North Europe Zone).
Stage
Round
Draw date
First leg
Second leg
Preliminary stage
Preliminary round
No draw
12 August 2088 (C, S, N)
26 August 2088 (C, S, N)
Play-off stage
Play-off round
11-12 August 2088 (W, E), 16 September 2088 (C, S, N)
25-26 August 2088 (W, E), 30 September 2088 (C, S, N)
Group stage
Matchday 1
20 July 2088
15-16 September 2088 (W, E), 21 October 2088 (C, S, N)
Matchday 2
29-30 September 2088 (W, E), 4 November 2088 (C, S, N)
Matchday 3
20-21 October 2088 (W, E), 25 November 2088 (C, S, N)
Matchday 4
3-4 November 2088 (W, E), 9 December 2088 (C, S, N)
Matchday 5
24-25 November 2088 (W, E), 24 February 2089 (C, S, N)
Matchday 6
8-9 December 2089 (W, E), 10 March 2089 (C, S, N)
Knockout stage
Zonal semi-finals
23-24 February 2089 (W), 16-17 February 2089 (E)
9-10 March 2089 (W), 23-24 February 2089 (E)
Zonal finals
11 February 2089
13-14 April 2089 (W), 9-10 March 2089 (E)
27-28 April 2089 (W), 16-17 March 2089 (E)
Inter-zonal play-off semi-finals
6-7 April 2089
13-14 April 2089
Inter-zonal play-off final
27-28 April 2089
4-5 May 2089
Final
18 May 2089
^Cite error: The named reference ranking was invoked but never defined (see the help page).