The 2024–25 Iraqi Premier Division League was the 51st season of the Iraqi Premier Division League, the second tier of the Iraqi football league system since its establishment in 1974, and the second under its new name. The season was originally set to begin on 11 October, but was delayed to 22 October to allow clubs to complete their preparations.
The 2024–25 season was played under a different format than the previous seasons, as teams are no longer separated into groups; instead the 20 teams played each other home and away in a double round-robin tournament.
Summary Al-Gharraf started the season strong, and went undefeated for eleven rounds before losing their first game to eventual champions Al-Mosul. Prior to the match, the Al-Gharraf team complained about lack of funds due to delays in receiving grants from the government. Supporters of the club raised 150 million IQD in order for the club to continue operating. Both clubs achieved promotion to the Iraq Stars League at the end of the season.
Former Iraqi top-flight champions Naft Al-Wasat also experienced severe financial difficulties, and the team was close to suffering back-to-back relegations, but survived after winning the relegation play-off. The club's issues culminated in them forfeiting a match against Maysan after not showing up to the game. On 18 January, Khalid Mohammed Sabbar resigned from managing Masafi Al-Wasat in order to take over at Naft Al-Wasat.
Teams
Team changes The following teams have changed division since the 2023–24 season:
Promoted from the Iraqi First Division League Al-Mosul Al-Kadhimiya
Relegated from the Iraq Stars League Amanat Baghdad Naft Al-Wasat
Promoted to the Iraq Stars League Diyala Al-Karma
Relegated to the Iraqi First Division League Samarra Al-Shirqat Al-Kufa Al-Diwaniya
Clubs and locations
TeamManagerLocationStadiumCapacityAfak Aqeel Mohammed Al-Qādisiyyah Al-Kifl Stadium8,000 Al-Bahri Ehsan HadiBasra Al-Bahri Stadium7,000Al-Etisalat Baghdad Al-Taji Stadium5,000Al-Fahad Natiq HadadAl-Anbar Al-Ramadi Stadium10,000Al-Gharraf Muayad Tuama Dhi Qar Al-Shatra Stadium7,500 Al-Hussein Baghdad Five Thousand Stadium5,000Al-Jolan Osama AliAl-Anbar Al-Fallujah Stadium7,000Al-Kadhimiya BaghdadAl-Kadhimiya Stadium5,000Al-Mosul NinevehMosul University Stadium5,000Al-Nasiriya Thair JassamDhi Qar An Nasiriya Stadium10,000Al-Ramadi Safwan Abdul-GhaniAl-Anbar Al Ramadi Stadium10,000 Al-Sinaa Baghdad Al-Sinaa Stadium10,000Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya Baghdad Al-Sinaa Stadium5,000 Amanat Baghdad Baghdad Amanat Baghdad Stadium5,000Ghaz Al-Shamal Kirkuk Ghaz Al-Shamal Stadium5,000Masafi Al-Junoob Nasser TallaBasra Masafi Al-Junoob Stadium5,000Masafi Al-Wasat Baghdad Al-Masafi Stadium5,000Maysan Uday IsmailMaysanMaysan Stadium25,000 Naft Al-Wasat Khalid Mohammed Sabbar Najaf Al-Najaf International Stadium30,000Peshmerga Sulaymaniya SulaymaniyahPeshmerga Stadium10,000
League table
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 play-off with the 18th-placed team from the Iraq Stars League for a place in next season's Stars League. If the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, there is no extra time played and the game goes straight to a penalty shootout.
Relegation play-off The 18th-placed team competes in a play-off with the 3rd-placed team from the First Division League for a place in next season's Premier Division League. If the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, there is no extra time played and the game goes straight to a penalty shootout.
References
External links Iraq Football Association