Iraqi football league system

The Iraqi football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for men's association football clubs in Iraq. The system has a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels, allowing even the smallest club the theoretical possibility of ultimately rising to the very top of the system. There are 4 individual levels, containing 8 leagues. It is run by the Iraq Football Association (IFA).

History
Main article: Iraqi National First Division

Up until 1973, leagues in Iraq were played at a regional level. The Central FA League, the Basra League and the Kirkuk League were all founded in 1948,[1] while the Mosul League was founded in 1950.[2] The first nationwide league to be held in the country was in the 1973–74 season when the National First Division was formed, with Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya being crowned champions.[3] The IFA then decided to replace the competition with a new National Clubs League (later known as Iraqi Premier League) which would only be open to clubs and not institute-representative teams.[4]

Since the 2023–24 season, the Iraqi Premier League was officially renamed to Iraq Stars League.

About the system

The system consists of a pyramid of leagues, bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation. A certain number of the most successful clubs in each league can rise to a higher league, whilst those that finish the season at the bottom of their league can find themselves sinking down a level. In addition to sporting performance, promotion is usually contingent on meeting criteria set by the higher league, especially concerning appropriate facilities and finances.

In theory, it is possible for a lowly local amateur club to achieve annual promotions and within a few years rise to the pinnacle of the Iraqi game and become champions of the Stars League (previously known as the Premier League). While this may be unlikely in practice (at the very least, in the short run), there certainly is significant movement within the pyramid.

Structure

At the top is the single division of the Stars League (level 1, which is often referred to as the "top-flight"), which contains 20 clubs, Division One (level 2) which consists of 24 clubs, Division Two (level 3) and Division Three (level 4).

Promotion and relegation rules for All the levels
  1. Stars League (level 1, 20 teams): The bottom two teams are relegated.
  2. Division One (level 2, 24 teams): The top team in each group is automatically promoted, the bottom 4 in each group are relegated.
  3. Division Two (level 3, 126 teams): The top 2 teams in each group automatically promoted.
  4. Division Three (level 4, TBD teams)

The system

Level one in the pyramid, the top division of Iraq football, is the Stars League, the winners of which are regarded as the champions of Iraq and the contenders have access to the Asian premier football competition, AFC Champions League Elite. Level 1 to 4 are operated by the Iraq Football Association.

Level

League(s)/division(s)

1

Stars League
20 clubs – 2 relegations

2

Division One
24 clubs – 2 promotions, 4 relegations

3

Division Two
125 clubs – 4 promotions, 25 relegations

4

Division Three Northern Group
8 clubs – 2 promotions, TBD relegations

Division Three Baghdad Group
18 clubs – 3 promotions, TBD relegations

Division Three Middle Euphrates Group
15 clubs – 4 promotions, TBD relegations

Division Three Western Group
33 clubs – 8 promotions, TBD relegations

Division Three Southern Group
35 clubs – 8 promotions, TBD relegations

See also

Notes

    References
    1. "Football leagues set up in Iraq's main centres". The Iraq Times. 16 October 1948.
    2. "Mosul forms new football group". The Iraq Times. 11 December 1950.
    3. Al-Sabti, Ali (2018). Iraqi League History 1956-1974. Iraq.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
    4. Al-Sabti, Ali (2014). Iraqi League History 1974-2011. Iraq.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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