Uzbekistan will be the site of Philippines Football League titleholder United City’s campaign in the AFC Champions League which starts late next month.
The AFC announced Monday, May 10 the Central Asian nation’s hosting of Groups H and I slated June 25 to July 11 as part of plans to stage Asia’s top club competition in centralized venues.
United City was drawn in Group I along with China’s Beijing FC, a quarterfinalist in last season’s Champions League, Japan champion Kawasaki Frontale and the winner of the playoff match between South Korea’s Daegu and Thailand’s Chiangrai United.
Daegu and Chiangrai will meet on June 23, also in Uzbekistan.
Kaya-Iloilo, meanwhile, could play in Thailand if it is able to hurdle two assignments in the preliminary and playoff rounds of the Champions League.
Last season’s PFL runner-up will play in Group F alongside South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai, Thailand’s BG Pathum United and Vietnam’s Viettel should it goes on to beat Australia’s Brisbane Roar in the preliminary round and China’s Shanghai Port in the playoff.
Failure to win in both matches will relegate Kaya in the AFC Cup where it is already assured of playing against Singapore’s Geylang International, Malaysia’s Terengganu and the winner of the match between Laos’ Visakha and Timor Leste’s Lalenok United on June 20.
Singapore is hosting the Group I matches in the AFC Cup.