| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 2 October 2025 – 25 May 2026 |
| Champions | Al-Jolan (1st title) |
| Promoted | Al-Jolan Ghaz Al-Shamal Karbala |
| Relegated | Al-Bahri Afak |
| Matches | 380 |
| Goals | 816 (2.15 per match) |
← 2024–25 2026–27 → | |
The 2025–26 Iraqi Premier Division League was the 52nd season of the Iraqi Premier Division League, the second tier of the Iraqi football league system since its establishment in 1974, and the third under its new name. The season began on 2 October 2025 and ended on 25 May 2026.[1]
Al-Jolan were crowned champions for the first time,[2] and were promoted to the Iraq Stars League alongside runners-up Ghaz Al-Shamal.[3]
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Jolan (C, P) | 38 | 23 | 8 | 7 | 67 | 38 | +29 | 77 | Promotion to the Iraq Stars League |
| 2 | Ghaz Al-Shamal (P) | 38 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 45 | 27 | +18 | 74 | |
| 3 | Al-Hudood | 38 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 59 | 32 | +27 | 69 | Qualification for the play-out round |
| 4 | Karbala (O, P) | 38 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 46 | 32 | +14 | 61 | |
| 5 | Al-Jaish | 38 | 14 | 19 | 5 | 52 | 40 | +12 | 61 | |
| 6 | Al-Etisalat | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 49 | 47 | +2 | 51 | |
| 7 | Al-Nasiriya | 38 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 46 | 45 | +1 | 51 | |
| 8 | Naft Al-Wasat | 38 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 40 | 47 | −7 | 50 | |
| 9 | Al-Kadhimiya | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 42 | 45 | −3 | 50 | |
| 10 | Al-Ramadi | 38 | 10 | 16 | 12 | 31 | 35 | −4 | 46 | |
| 11 | Al-Fahad | 38 | 10 | 16 | 12 | 36 | 41 | −5 | 46 | |
| 12 | Masafi Al-Wasat | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 37 | 40 | −3 | 46 | |
| 13 | Peshmerga Sulaymaniya | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 36 | 35 | +1 | 45 | |
| 14 | Masafi Al-Junoob | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 44 | |
| 15 | Al-Hussein | 38 | 9 | 17 | 12 | 35 | 38 | −3 | 44 | |
| 16 | Naft Al-Basra | 38 | 9 | 16 | 13 | 33 | 37 | −4 | 43 | |
| 17 | Maysan | 38 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 38 | −9 | 40 | |
| 18 | Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi | 38 | 7 | 18 | 13 | 31 | 42 | −11 | 39 | Qualification for the relegation play-off |
| 19 | Al-Bahri (R) | 38 | 7 | 17 | 14 | 35 | 45 | −10 | 38 | Relegation to the Iraqi First Division League |
| 20 | Afak (R) | 38 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 28 | 73 | −45 | 25 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) number of wins.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Promotion play-offs
Play-out round
The 3rd and 4th-placed teams compete in a play-off, with the winner advancing to the promotion play-off and the loser remaining in the Premier Division League.
If the scores are level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time are played. If the scores are still level after extra time, the 3rd-placed team advances to the promotion play-off due to their superior league position.
Promotion play-off
The winner of the play-out round competes in a two-legged play-off with the 18th-placed team from the Iraq Stars League for a place in next season's Stars League. If the tie ends in a draw on aggregate, there is no extra time played and the game goes straight to a penalty shootout.
Karbala won 2–0 on aggregate.
Relegation play-off
The 18th-placed team competes in a two-legged play-off with the 3rd-placed team from the First Division League for a place in next season's Premier Division League.
Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi won 3–1 on aggregate.
References
- "اتحاد الكرة ينشر جدول مباريات الدوري الممتاز للموسم الجديد" (in Arabic). Iraqi News Agency. 29 September 2025.
- "الجولان بطلاً للدوري العراقي الممتاز" (in Arabic). Al-Khaleej. 22 May 2026.
- "تأهل غاز الشمال لدوري نجوم العراق" (in Arabic). Iraqi News Agency. 25 May 2026.