Football in Iraq | |
---|---|
Country | Iraq |
Governing body | Iraq Football Association |
National team(s) | men's national team |
National competitions | |
Club competitions | |
International competitions | |
The sport of football in the country of Iraq is run by the Iraq Football Association. [1] [2] The association administers the national football team as well as the Iraq Stars League. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Football is the most popular sport in Iraq. [8]
The national team have qualified for the final tournament of the World Cup once in 1986 which was held in Mexico. Success in the Asian Cup has been more widespread, winning the tournament in 2007 and finishing fourth in 1976 and 2015. As of 2015 the women's national team have not entered either of these competitions.[ citation needed ]
The under-23 side has had success at the Asian Games winning silver at the 2006 edition in Qatar and bronze in the 2014 tournament, held in South Korea. Their best placing in Olympic football has been fourth at Athens in 2004.[ citation needed ]
As of 18 July 2024 the men's team were ranked 55th in the world [9] while the women's team are ranked 172nd [10]
The Ministry of Youth and Sports developed plans to drastically improve sports infrastructure and have decided to build big stadiums in every governorate of Iraq. The government gave them a $2.5bn package for this cause, and plans have been drawn up to build most of the stadiums below. They have also used some of this budget to improve football on a local level in areas of the country. Most stadiums listed below have been funded by this package, unless they are one of the older stadiums, or the proposed Baghdad Sports City, which will be funded by the Saudi king, King Salman.[ citation needed ]
Aliyat Al-Shorta reached the final of the AFC Champions League, the biggest tournament in Asian football, in 1971 but withdrew from the final due to it being against an Israeli team. Al-Rasheed also reached the final in 1989 but lost on away goals. Al-Shorta won the first ever edition of the Arab Club Champions Cup in 1982 with Al-Rasheed winning that competition three times in a row (1985, 1986, 1987). Al-Talaba and Al-Zawraa both lost the final of the Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 1995 and 2000 respectively, before Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya won Asia's second-tier tournament, the AFC Cup, three consecutive times in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Maysan Olympic Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Amarah, Iraq. The stadium holds 25,000 people and was opened in 1987.
Zakho Sport Club, also spelled as Zaxo Sport Club, is an Iraqi professional sports club based in Zakho, Iraqi Kurdistan.
Afak Sports Club, is an Iraqi football club based in Afak, Al-Qādisiyyah. The team competes in the Iraqi Premier Division League.
Al-Madina International Stadium is a football stadium in Baghdad, Iraq. It is Iraq's first-ever stadium solar power plant, and the second in the Middle East of its kind.
Al Kifl Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Babylon, Iraq. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home stadium of Al-Qasim SC. It also has facilities for athletics which offers the possibility to host various sporting events. It is named after the town Al Kifl in which the stadium is located. The stadium holds 8,000 people.
Suq Al-Shuyukh Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home stadium of Al-Forat FC and Suq Al-Shuyukh FC. The stadium holds 5,000 people. Its construction cost approximately 7.5 million USD.
Al-Aziziyah Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Wasit, Iraq. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home stadium of Al-Aziziyah SC. It also has facilities for athletics. The stadium holds 5,000 people.
Salah Al Din Stadium is a football specific stadium in Tikrit, Iraq, that is currently under construction. Once completed, it will be used mostly for football matches and will host the home matches of Salahaddin FC as a replacement for their venue Tikrit Stadium. The stadium will have a capacity of 30,000 spectators and will cost approximately $90 million USD funded entirely by Iraqi government.
Al-Bahri Stadium is a football specific stadium in Basra, Iraq. It is the new home of Al-Bahri SC, currently playing in the Iraqi First Division League. The stadium has a capacity of 7,000 spectators, fully seated and all sheltered.
Five Thousand Stadium, also known as Al-Hussein Stadium, is a football-specific stadium in Baghdad, Iraq. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Al-Hussein SC. As the stadium's name implies, it can hold 5,000 spectators.
Al-Maimouna Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Maysan, Iraq. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Maysan FC. Opened in 2012, it has a seating capacity of 2,000 people.
Al-Aziziya Sport Club, is an Iraqi football team based in Al-Aziziya, Wasit, that plays in Iraqi Second Division League.
Ain Al-Tamur Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Ayn al-Tamr, 86 km west of Karbala, Iraq. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home stadium of Ain Al-Tamur SC. The stadium holds 2,000 people.
The 2022–23 season will be Al-Minaa's first season in the Iraqi First Division League since the 1989–90 season and their third overall, having been relegated from the Iraqi Premier League in the 2021–22 season. Al-Minaa are participating in the Iraqi First Division League and the Iraq FA Cup.
Ain Al-Tamur Sport Club, is an Iraqi football team based in Karbala, that plays in the Iraqi Second Division League.
The 2023–24 season was Al-Minaa's first season in the newly-formed Iraq Stars League, and their 47th season in the top division of Iraq football.
Sajjad Alaa is an Iraqi professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Iraqi Stars League side Al-Minaa.
Karrar Jaafar is an Iraqi professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Iraqi Stars League side Al-Minaa.