The Asian Football Confederation confirmed Phoenix are eligible to take part in the continental competition if they qualify until the end of 2011, a dispensation in line with FIFA's approval even though they do not fulfil the criteria to compete in the ACL.

However, only New Zealand footballers will be treated as local players while Australians will be classed as foreigners if Wellington were to secure an ACL berth.

Following a meeting of the AFC Professional League Ad Hoc Committee, the confederation wrote to Football Federation Australia to outline Australian clubs will lose their right to participate in the ACL from 2012 onwards if they do not alter the conditions under which Phoenix operate.

According to the AFC's official website, FFA will therefore have to implement the following measures in order to ensure they are eligible for the 2012 ACL:

- Wellington Phoenix FC should be officially registered as a commercial entity in Australia under local law.

- To comply with the provisions of the Regulations, the number of (non-Australian) foreign players - which will then include New Zealanders -  in Wellington Phoenix FC should be the same as in other clubs participating in the A-League.

- In case Wellington Phoenix qualify for the ACL, the 3+1 system should be implemented by the club according to the ACL Regulations, allowing a maximum of only three New Zealanders and no other foreigners apart from one AFC player.

- Otherwise, Wellington Phoenix FC should belong to the second division of the A-League, which should be newly created by FFA

Phoenix currently lie eighth in the A-League table, 13 points behind leaders Melbourne Victory. The team that tops the table at the end of the regular season and the Grand Final winners will qualify for next year's ACL.