United City and three others were recently granted licenses by the Philippine Football Federation in order to be eligible for Asian clubs competitions in 2022.
The Philippine Football Federation said United City, Kaya-Iloilo, Stallion-Laguna and Mendiola FC 1991 can be nominated for the AFC Champions League or AFC Cup next year after their applications were approved last month.
Kaya and Stallion, both competing in the ongoing Copa Paulino Alcantara, were immediately issued AFC licenses by the PFF’s first instance body last Oct. 20.
UCFC and Mendiola were later given their license after its appeal was granted 10 days later.
But the PFF’s appeals body said the approval is “subject to fines and submission of documents.”
All four clubs had to file for licenses in order to compete in the Champions League and the AFC Cup.
United City will be allowed to join despite revealing that it was dragged into a legal dispute involving Ceres-Negros, which previously held its club license.
It was the same reason that prompted UCFC to pull out of the Copa.
Kaya, Stallion and Mendiola, set to play the Azkals Development Team Saturday, Nov. 13, are hoping to secure nomination to the AFC competitions by winning the Copa title.
United City and Kaya became the first clubs to play in the Champions League, the region's top club competition.
Kaya had previously played in the AFC Cup which is a second-tier event.