Kaya-Iloilo was officially awarded a spot in a playoff round match of the AFC Champions League against China’s Shanghai Port on June 23.
The Asian Football Confederation made the announcement Sunday, June 6, days after the Brisbane Roar became one of three clubs from Australia to withdraw from the region’s top club competition.
Kaya was supposed to take on Brisbane in the preliminary stage, with the winner advancing to face Shanghai for the final spot in Group F of the ACL.
“The sub-committee approved the cancellation of the preliminary stage match between Brisbane Roar and Kaya FC-Iloilo from the Philippines, who will now move one step closer towards making their group stage debut,” the AFC said.
“(B)ut (Kaya) will need to first defeat China’s Shanghai Port FC in the Playoff Stage to secure the final spot in Group F,” added Asia’s football governing body.
The runner-up in last year’s Philippines Football League plays Shanghai in the playoff which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Kaya will still have continental football even if it fails to upset Shanghai since it is already assured of a spot in Group I of the AFC Cup.