Contents
History
Early football & regional leagues (pre-1974)
After the Iraq Football Association (IFA) was founded in 1948, football in Iraq was initially organised on a regional basis. There were regional leagues in Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, and Kirkuk. These leagues included both clubs and teams that represented institutions, such as the military or government departments. For many years, these regional competitions dominated Iraqi football, with clubs mostly staying within their own areas. There was no unified national league until the early 1970s.
Formation of a nationwide league (1973-1975)
The first attempt at a nationwide competition came in the 1973–74 season. The following year, in 1974, the IFA formally founded the National Clubs First Division League. This was the first competition to be for clubs only, without institutional teams, and it marks the official founding of the modern top-flight league in Iraq. The first season under this format was 1974-75 and it began with ten clubs.
Growth, names & format changes
Over time, the league has grown in the number of clubs, changed its format, and adjusted its rules to reflect changes in politics, logistics, and sport. The league has been known by different names in different eras. For example, at one point it was called the Iraqi Advanced League, then the Iraqi Premier League, and now the Iraq Stars League. The league has also been affected by external events, such as political instability and war, which have sometimes forced postponements or changes to the schedule.
Rise of dominant clubs & rivalries
Certain clubs have been established as traditional powerhouses almost since the beginning. Teams like Al-Zawraa, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Al-Shorta, and Al-Talaba have become regular title contenders and have strong rivalries, especially in Baghdad. Over the decades, these clubs have won most of the championships and are heavily featured in the lists of all-time winners.
Modernisation & professionalisation
A major recent change came in 2023, when the league was officially rebranded as the Iraq Stars League. This was part of a move to make the competition fully professional. A new governing body, the Iraqi Pro League Association, was also established to oversee the league and its youth competitions. The IFA entered a partnership with La Liga in June 2023 to help with this transformation. Since becoming professional, the league has used a format of 20 clubs, with each team playing 38 matches a season. The 2023-24 season was the first under the new name, and Al-Shorta won the championship. The 2024-25 season is the second under the new professional structure.
Competition structure & format
Number of clubs & league level
The Iraq Stars League is the top division of the football league system in Iraq. It has been contested by 20 clubs since the 2014-15 season.
Match format / season schedule
The league uses a double round-robin system, which means each team plays every other team twice (once at home and once away). This results in each club playing 38 matches in a season, for a total of 380 matches. The season usually runs from September to the middle of the following year.
Points, ranking & tiebreakers
Teams are ranked by points, with 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 for a loss. When teams are tied on points, the ranking is decided by:
– Head-to-head points.
– Head-to-head goal difference.
– Overall goal difference.
– Goals scored.
– Number of wins. If teams are still tied, especially for the championship, relegation, or qualification for other competitions, a play-off match is used.
Promotion & relegation
– The bottom two teams (19th and 20th) are directly relegated to the Iraqi Premier Division League (second tier).
– The team that finishes 18th has to play in a relegation play-off against the winner of a “play-out” round between the teams that finished 3rd and 4th in the Premier Division. The winner of this match gets a place in the next season’s Stars League.
Foreign player rules & squad requirements
– Squads: Each club must register a 25-man squad.
– Foreign players: There is a limit of six foreign outfield players a club can register. There are special exceptions, with no restrictions for players from Yemen and a maximum of one player from Syria.
– Matchday restrictions: A maximum of six foreign players, including those from Yemen and Syria, can be on the pitch at any one time.
– Goalkeepers: Teams are not allowed to sign a foreign goalkeeper.
– FIFA ranking: No more than two players from countries ranked outside the top 90 in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking can play at any given time.
Continental & domestic qualification
– The league champion qualifies for the AFC Champions League Elite competition.
– The winners of the Iraq FA Cup qualify for the AFC Champions League Two. If the league champion also wins the cup, the league runner-up may get that spot.
– Some clubs can also take part in other regional competitions, such as the Arab Club Champions Cup.
Notable season examples
– 2024-25 season: Al-Shorta won their fourth consecutive title. The season had 20 clubs, with a total of 380 matches played and 862 goals scored.
– 2023-24 season: This was the first full season under the professional Stars League name. Al-Shorta also won the league and completed a double by winning the Iraq FA Cup.
Clubs & key teams
Major / traditional powerhouses
– Al-Zawraa SC: The most successful club in the league with 14 titles. They play at the Al-Shaljiya Stadium and are traditionally among the favourites each season. They have rivalries with Al-Shorta, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, and Al-Talaba.
– Al-Shorta SC: One of the older clubs from Baghdad and a recent dominant force, winning the 2024-25 season. They have won 8 league titles and are known for strong performances and fierce derby matches against other Baghdad clubs. They play at the Al-Shaab Stadium.
– Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya: Another top club from Baghdad with multiple championship wins and a consistent presence in continental competitions. They have a strong rivalry with Al-Zawraa and Al-Shorta.
– Al-Talaba: A club from Baghdad that has won the league several times and is a regular contender. They also have rivalries with the other big Baghdad sides.
Other noteworthy / rising clubs
– Erbil FC: A leading club from the Kurdistan region that has won multiple league titles. They have a distinct fan base and regional rivalry with other Kurdish clubs. They play at the Franso Hariri Stadium.
– Al-Minaa (Basra): A historically important club with a strong regional following in Basra.
– Newroz: A recent addition from Sulaymaniya, whose growth reflects the increasing reach of the Stars League.
– Naft Maysan, Naft Al-Basra: Clubs backed by the oil industry (“Naft” meaning oil). They sometimes have good financial backing but have variable performance.
Key rivalries & derbies
– Baghdad derbies: The matches between the Baghdad giants (Al-Zawraa vs Al-Shorta, Al-Talaba vs Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya) are hugely significant for both fans and the league’s momentum.
– Regional rivalries: Matches between clubs from Basra and Baghdad draw strong crowds and regional pride. Similarly, derbies in the Kurdish region (Erbil vs other northern clubs) are also very popular.
– Promotion/relegation matches: While not traditional rivalries, the pressure of staying in the top division makes these matches emotionally charged.
– Al-Shorta and Al-Zawraa have a particularly intense rivalry, having won 22 titles between them.
– Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya are the most successful club in the history of the Iraq FA Cup, with 16 titles.
– Al-Talaba is the first club in Iraq to win the double, winning both the league and the Iraq FA Cup in 1981.
– Al-Zawraa holds the record for the highest attendance in a single match, with 75,000 spectators watching a match against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya in 1999.
Sportmonks & the Iraq Stars League
Sportmonks provides a sports data API that covers live scores, fixtures, results, player and team statistics, league standings, historical data, betting odds, and predictions. Our API covers over 2,300 leagues globally, including the Iraq Stars League, and has nearly 20 years of historical results.
Data features
Sportmonks provides multiple data endpoints and features, including:
– Match data (scores, events, goals, cards, and substitutions).
– Team and squad information.
– Player stats (season, match, and live/in-play).
– League standings, historical seasons, and fixtures.
– Additional endpoints in their newer version (API 3.0) for referees, coach statistics, and more.
How Sportmonks can support sports content
By using the Sportmonks API, you can get up-to-date information for the Iraq Stars League, such as the number of clubs, current standings, match schedules, and recent results. It is also useful for historical data to verify records, top scorers, and championship counts. Prediction endpoints can also be used to analyse projections or odds for upcoming matches.
Bring the Iraq Stars League closer with Sportmonks
The Iraq Stars League is a competition with deep history, fierce rivalries, and modern professionalisation, and with Sportmonks you can follow it in detail. Our Football API provides live scores, fixtures, league tables, player and team statistics, historical records, and predictive insights that help you capture both the tradition and the future of Iraqi football. Whether you want to build a fan platform, develop scouting or analysis tools, or enhance betting coverage, Sportmonks delivers the accuracy, reliability, and depth you need. Start exploring the Sportmonks Football API today and bring the excitement of the Iraq Stars League to your audience.
Faqs about the Iraqi Premier League
