The Iraqi football champions are the winners of the highest league in Iraqi football. Following the establishment of the Iraq Football Association (IFA) in 1948, a regional league called the Iraq Central FA Premier League was held for teams from Baghdad and its neighbouring cities, alongside other regional leagues including the Basra, Kirkuk and Mosul leagues. These regional league championships lasted until 1973,[1] when the IFA established the first nationwide football league in Iraq by the name of Iraqi National First Division, which featured a mixture of clubs and institute teams.
| Iraqi League (1st tier) |
|---|
| Iraqi National First Division (1973–1974) Iraq Stars League (1974–present) |
| Country |
 Iraq
|
| Founded |
| 1973 |
| Number of teams |
| 20 (since 2014–15 season) |
| Current champions |
| Al-Shorta (2023–24) |
| Most successful club |
| Al-Zawraa (14 championships) |
After one season, a new clubs-only league competition was established, with many of the institute teams merging together or being replaced by sports clubs. The first season saw Al-Tayaran (now known as Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya) achieving the league title.[2] The four "Popular Teams" of Baghdad (Al-Zawraa, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Al-Shorta and Al-Talaba), have dominated the now-called Iraq Stars League over the years. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Al-Shorta have appeared in every season of the top-flight, while Al-Zawraa and Al-Talaba have also never been relegated.[2]
Al-Zawraa have won 14 titles, the most of any club.[3] Erbil are the only club outside of Baghdad to achieve more than one title, having won four titles, all in the 21st century.[4][5]
List of champions
edit| † | Champions also won the Iraq FA Cup that season for a double |
| * | Champions also won the Iraq FA Cup and Arab Club Champions Cup that season for a treble |
| † | Champions also won the Iraq FA Cup and Umm al-Ma'arik Championship that season for a domestic treble |
| ‡ | Champions also won the Umm al-Ma'arik Championship that season |
| # | Champions also won the AFC Cup that season |
1973–1974: Iraqi National First Division
edit| Season | Champions (number of titles) | Runners-up | Third place | Winning manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973–74 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | Aliyat Al-Shorta | Al-Minaa |  Abdelilah Mohammed Hassan
|
1974–present: Iraq Stars League
edit
Total titles won
editThere are 11 clubs who have won the Iraqi title.
Teams in bold compete in the Stars League as of the 2024–25 season.
| Rank | Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Zawraa | 14 | 7 | 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2015–16, 2017–18 |
| 2 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 8 | 15 | 1973–74, 1974–75, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2004–05, 2016–17, 2020–21 |
| 3 | Al-Shorta | 7 | 2 | 1979–80, 1997–98, 2012–13, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| 4 | Al-Talaba | 5 | 7 | 1980–81, 1981–82, 1985–86, 1992–93, 2001–02 |
| 5 | Erbil | 4 | 2 | 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2011–12 |
| 6 | Al-Rasheed | 3 | 2 | 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89 |
| 7 | Al-Jaish | 1 | 2 | 1983–84 |
| Al-Minaa | 1 | 1 | 1977–78 | |
| Duhok | 1 | 1 | 2009–10 | |
| Naft Al-Wasat | 1 | 1 | 2014–15 | |
| Salahaddin | 1 | 0 | 1982–83 |
Titles won by club (%)
By region
edit| Region | Championships | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Baghdad | 38
|
Al-Zawraa (14), Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (8), Al-Shorta (7), Al-Talaba (5), Al-Rasheed (3), Al-Jaish (1) |
| Kurdistan | 5
|
Erbil (4), Duhok (1) |
| South | 1
|
Al-Minaa (1) |
| Central | 1
|
Salahaddin (1) |
| Central Euphrates | 1
|
Naft Al-Wasat (1) |
By city
edit| City / Town | Championships | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Baghdad | 38
|
Al-Zawraa (14), Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (8), Al-Shorta (7), Al-Talaba (5), Al-Rasheed (3), Al-Jaish (1) |
| Erbil | 4
|
Erbil (4) |
| Basra | 1
|
Al-Minaa (1) |
| Duhok | 1
|
Duhok (1) |
| Najaf | 1
|
Naft Al-Wasat (1) |
| Tikrit | 1
|
Salahaddin (1) |
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Story of the Iraqi Football League". Kooora Forums (in Arabic). Abu Baqer Al-Ahmed. 11 February 2007.
- ^ a b Hashim, Refel. "Iraq 1975/76". RSSSF.
- ^ Al-Nasser, Falah (22 May 2016). "Al-Zawra'a Are the Champions of the Premier League for the 13th Time in Their History". As-Sabah Al-Jadeed (in Arabic).
- ^ Al-Sabti, Ali (2014). Iraqi League History 1974–2011. Iraq.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Al-Munshi, Dr.Dhia (2005). Iraqi Football Encyclopedia: Chico.. Jamoli… and football in Iraq. Citadel Printing & Design, Al-Saadoun, Baghdad.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)