2022 AFC Champions League & AFC Cup Draw The roadmap for Kaya's return to Asia's top flight has been laid out, and it all begins on March 8th.

The AFC Champions League Group Stage Draw was held virtually earlier today from their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, and Kaya FC-Iloilo find themselves in a familiar situation.

Once again on the outside looking in at the top flight of Asian football, the Filipino side must go through another gauntlet in order to return to the big stage. The path back will be steeper this time around, but last year’s success showed everyone that it can be done.

In 2021, Kaya FC-Iloilo made history and secured their first AFC Champions League berth in a Playoff Round victory over Shanghai Port FC. However, what awaited them was Group F’s den of champions with BG Pathum United (Thailand), Viettel FC (Vietnam), and Ulsan Hyundai FC (2020 ACL Winners).

Despite valiant efforts against the various champs, they failed to secure points in their debut ACL campaign. However, the experience gained proved invaluable and fuelled the recent Copa Paulino Alcanatara title run, and consequently their return bid in 2022.

Kaya will face the to-be-determined 3rd Representative from Australia in the Preliminary Stage on March 8, and the winner will go on to face China’s Changcun Yatai FC in the Playoff Round on March 15.

The last team standing after these two fixtures will advance to the competition’s Group Stage, joining Group H alongside the 2021 K-League Champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos, and Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC.

Should Kaya lose in either fixture, they’ll return to the AFC Cup which will take place later in the year. They’ve been drawn into Group G alongside Indonesia’s Bali United FC, Malaysia’s Kedah Darul Aman FC, and the Playoff winner between Cambodia’s Visakha FC and Laos’ Young Elephants FC.