Iraqi First Division League
Football league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Iraqi First Division League is a football league that is the third tier of the Iraqi football league system, which was founded in 1974. The league consists of 20 teams split into two groups. The winners of each group are promoted to the Iraqi Premier Division League and advance to the final to compete for the league title. The runners-up of each group compete in a two-legged third place play-off, with the winners entering a promotion play-off with the 18th-placed team from the Premier Division League.[1]
| |
| Founded | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Country | Iraq |
| Number of clubs | 20 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Iraqi Premier Division League |
| Relegation to | Iraqi Second Division League |
| Domestic cup | Iraq FA Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League Two (via Iraq FA Cup) |
| Current champions | Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi (1st title) (2024–25) |
| Current: 2025–26 Iraqi First Division League | |
The two teams that finish bottom of their group are relegated to the Iraqi Second Division League. The ninth-placed teams of each group compete in a two-legged play-off, with the loser also being relegated to the Second Division League. The league is governed by the Iraq Football Association (IFA).[2]
In the 2024–25 season, Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi won the championship title after defeating Al-Jaish 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the final match.[3]
Competition name
| Period | Name |
|---|---|
| 1974–1995 | National Clubs Third Division League |
| 1995–1999 | Second Division League |
| 1999–2000 | Third Division League |
| 2000–2002 | Second Division League |
| 2002–2003 | Third Division League |
| 2003–2023 | Second Division League |
| 2023–present | First Division League |