The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced Monday night that Uzbekistan will host the AFC Champions League Group I matches scheduled for 23 June until 11 July 2021.

This will be United City FC’s maiden appearance in Asia’s top flight competition. The club have gone close to qualifying for the group stages on two previous occasions as Ceres-Negros FC narrowly losing the play-off round in 2018 and 2020.

The reigning Philippines Football League champions will face Beijing FC of China PR, Kawasaki Frontale of Japan, and the winner of the play-off match between Daegu FC of Korea Republic and Chiangrai United of Thailand for a spot in the next round. Matches will be played at the Lokomotiv Stadium and Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

United City has reinforced its lineup ahead of the upcoming Champions League and PFL campaign with key acquisitions in Mark Hartmann, Omid and Amin Nazari, Justin Baas, Jai Ingham and Jonny Campbell joining returnees such as captain Stephan Schrock, Bienvenido Marañon, and Mike Ott.