First Preliminary Round fixtures were played from 12 to 18 August 2018. A total of 205 teams from the Egyptian Third Division and the Egyptian Fourth Division entered at this stage of the competition. A large number of clubs did not enter the competition due to financial status and other different reasons, including Al Fanar, a club that was playing in the Egyptian Second Division in the previous season. The results were as follows:[6]
Match abandoned after 77 minutes after MS Ebshway players stopped playing in protest of refereeing when the score was 1–0 to Beni Suef. The Egyptian Football Association later awarded Beni Suef a 2–0 win.[12]
Match abandoned after 83 minutes after Girga players attacked the referee in protest of refereeing when the score was 2–0 to Qena. The Egyptian Football Association later awarded Qena a 2–0 win, even though the match ended with that result.[13]