The Asian Football Confederation on its Internet homepage Tuesday said countries that finish third or higher in this year's AFC Asian Cup 2007 soccer tournament will receive automatic bids to compete in 2011.

The AFC also announced that winners of the 2008 and 2010 AFC Challenge Cup tournaments will also receive invitations to participate in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

The host of the 2011 tournament will be announced on Sunday. Qatar, the sole bidder for the tournament, is expected to win the right to host the games.