New Delhi, Oct. 15 -- Qatar and Saudi Arabia secured places at next year's World Cup on Tuesday after topping the two groups in the fourth round of Asian qualifying.

Qatar edged United Arab Emirates 2-1 in Doha and Saudi Arabia drew 0-0 with Iraq in Jeddah to become the seventh and eighth teams to qualify from Asia for the expanded 48-team World Cup.

The Qataris and Saudis had home advantage in the fourth stage.

It marks the first time that Qatar, which lost all three group-stage games when it hosted the 2022 tournament, has advanced through qualification. Saudi Arabia, selected to host the 2034 World Cup, will appear for a seventh time next summer in the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"It's one of...