Pakistan, June 13 -- Saudi Arabia and Qatar will host the crucial fourth round of Asia's 2026 World Cup qualifiers this October. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the decision on Friday. These two countries secured hosting rights after advancing to this important phase, showing their strong football capabilities.

Along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates will also compete in this round. The official draw to decide the groups will take place on July 17. Iraq had also expressed interest in hosting but the AFC chose Saudi Arabia and Qatar due to their experience in managing major sports events.

The six teams will be divided into two groups of three. The winners from each group wil...