^^
Like I've said before, people are free to choose for themselves what they want to consider canonical/non-canonical or connected/non-connected despite what the studios involved say. Likewise, people are free to ignore discrepancies if they choose to believe that two things are connected. I...
Is it in the MCU or not?
Who cares? Being in the MCU won't make it a better or worse film; not being in the MCU won't make it a better or worse film.
If you want to consider it part of the MCU, then do so. If you don't, then don't.