2024–25 Iraq Stars League

Iraq Stars League
Season2024–25
Dates20 September 2024 – 4 July 2025
ChampionsAl-Shorta
(8th title)
RelegatedAl-Hudood
Karbala
AFC Champions League EliteAl-Shorta
Matches played380
Goals scored862 (2.27 per match)
Top goalscorerMohanad Ali
(27 goals)
Biggest home winZakho 5–0 Karbala
(5 October 2024)
Biggest away winDiyala 0–6 Al-Shorta
(26 September 2024)
Highest scoringZakho 6–2 Al-Qasim
(9 February 2025)
Longest winning run9 matches
Al-Shorta
Longest unbeaten run17 matches
Al-Shorta
Longest winless run17 matches
Diyala
Karbala
Longest losing run9 matches
Karbala

The 2024–25 Iraq Stars League was the 51st season of the highest tier football league in Iraq since its establishment in 1974, and the second season since launching as a professional league under the name Iraq Stars League. The season started on 20 September 2024 and ended on 4 July 2025, with the relegation play-off held on 14 July 2025.[1]

Al-Shorta became the first team in history to win the league title four times in a row, finishing ten points ahead of runners-up Al-Zawraa. Al-Shorta sealed the title with two games to spare after defeating Naft Al-Basra 3–1.[2]

Overview

20 teams competed in the 2024–25 Iraq Stars League: 18 teams from the previous season, as well as Diyala and Al-Karma who were promoted from the 2023–24 Iraqi Premier Division League, replacing Amanat Baghdad and Naft Al-Wasat who were relegated.[3] Diyala returned to the top-flight after a 13-year absence, while Al-Karma played in the top-flight for the first time in history this season.

Teams

Locations of the 2024–25 Iraq Stars League teams

Stadiums and locations

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Al-Hudood Baghdad (14 July) Al-Saher Ahmed Radhi Stadium 5,150
Al-Kahrabaa Baghdad (Al-Wazireya Al-Sinaaiya) Al-Zawraa Stadium 15,443
Al-Karkh Baghdad (Al-Mansour) Al-Saher Ahmed Radhi Stadium 5,150
Al-Karma Anbar (Al-Karma) Al-Ramadi Stadium 10,000
Al-Minaa Basra (Maqal) Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium 30,000
Al-Naft Baghdad (Shaab) Al-Saher Ahmed Radhi Stadium 5,150
Al-Najaf Najaf Al-Najaf International Stadium 30,000
Al-Qasim Babil (Al-Qasim) Al-Najaf International Stadium 30,000
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Baghdad (Zayouna) Al-Shaab Stadium 35,700
Al-Shorta Baghdad (Zayouna) Al-Shaab Stadium 35,700
Al-Talaba Baghdad (Hayy Qahira) Al-Madina Stadium 32,000
Al-Zawraa Baghdad (Sheikh Maaruf, Al-Shaljiya) Al-Zawraa Stadium 15,443
Diyala Diyala (Baqubah) Al-Madina Stadium 32,000
Duhok Duhok Duhok Stadium 22,800
Erbil Erbil Franso Hariri Stadium 25,000
Karbala Karbala Karbala International Stadium 30,000
Naft Al-Basra Basra (Al-Khadhraa) Al-Fayhaa Stadium 30,000
Naft Maysan Maysan (Amara) Maysan Olympic Stadium 25,000
Newroz Sulaymaniyah Newroz International Stadium 14,500
Zakho Duhok (Zakho) Zakho International Stadium 20,000

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Al-Hudood Hamza Hadi Saqr Ajail Jako none
Al-Kahrabaa Radhi Shenaishil Hussam Kadhim Jako none
Al-Karkh Ahmad Abdul-Jabar Jafar Obeis Kelme none
Al-Karma Ahmed Khalef Mohammed Hameed Kelme Al-Rahma Telecom
Al-Minaa Hussam Al Sayed Alaa Abdul-Zahra Adidas none
Al-Naft Adel Nima Ali Yaseen Al-Naft (own brand) none
Al-Najaf Wali Kareem Mohammed Jassim Adidas none
Al-Qasim Ayman Hakeem Hussein Abdul-Wahed Kaka Sport none
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Ali Abdul-Jabbar Saad Abdul-Amir Kelme none
Al-Shorta Moamen Soliman Mohanad Ali Qitharah (own brand) none
Al-Talaba Basim Qasim Saad Natiq Kelme Al-Manasa IPTV
Al-Zawraa Haider Obeid Jalal Hassan Adidas none
Diyala Yamen Zelfani Kosrat Baez Kelme Alrabiaa Network Television
Duhok Soliman Ramadan Bayar Abubakir Kelme First Iraqi Bank
Erbil Samir Babo Sherko Karim Puma Korek Telecom
Karbala Abbas Attiya Ali Salih Kaka Sport none
Naft Al-Basra Emad Aoda Hussam Malik Naft Al-Basra (own brand) none
Naft Maysan Hussein Abdul-Wahed Akram Rahim Naft Maysan (own brand) none
Newroz Qahtan Chathir Mohammed Delawar Puma none
Zakho Abdul-Ghani Shahad Amjad Attwan Hummel none

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in the table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Al-Hudood Adel Nima Mutual consent End of previous season Pre-season Haidar Abdul-Amir Start of current season
Al-Kahrabaa Luay Salah Wali Karim Start of current season
Al-Karma Natiq Haddad Ghazi Fahad Start of current season
Al-Minaa Hassan Ahmed Pablo Grandes Start of current season
Al-Naft Basim Qasim Adel Nima Start of current season
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Razzaq Farhan Wesam Rizik Start of current season
Al-Shorta Moamen Soliman Ahmed Salah Start of current season
Al-Talaba Qahtan Chathir Basim Qasim Start of current season
Duhok Ahmed Khalaf Mesut Meral Start of current season
Karbala Chasib Sultan Carlos Hernandez Start of current season
Naft Al-Basra Haitham Al-Shaboul Andrej Panadić Start of current season
Newroz Nizar Mahrous Jorvan Vieira Start of current season
Karbala Carlos Hernandez Mutual consent Prior to the start of the season Hassan Ahmed Start of current season
Diyala Sadeq Hanoon Sacked 3 November 2024 19th Yamen Zelfani 12 November 2024
Al-Hudood Haidar Abdul-Amir 4 November 2024 20th Thair Jassam 5 November 2024
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Wesam Rizik 5 December 2024 7th Luay Salah 6 December 2024
Al-Shorta Ahmed Salah 8 December 2024 8th Mohamed Azima 7 January 2025
Newroz Jorvan Vieira 12 December 2024 18th Qahtan Chathir 13 December 2024
Al-Karkh Haitham Shaaban 15 January 2025 18th Ahmad Abdul-Jabar 15 January 2025
Naft Al-Basra Andrej Panadić Mutual consent 27 January 2025 18th Emad Aoda 30 March 2025
Al-Karma Ghazi Fahad Resigned 30 January 2025 14th Ahmed Khalef 30 January 2025
Al-Kahrabaa Wali Karim 30 January 2025 13th Radhi Shenaishil 31 January 2025
Al-Minaa Pablo Grandes Sacked 8 February 2025 15th Hussam Al Sayed 21 February 2025
Al-Zawraa Essam Hamad 26 February 2025 2nd Haider Obeid 26 February 2025
Al-Shorta Mohamed Azima Mutual consent 10 March 2025 3rd Moamen Soliman 17 March 2025
Naft Maysan Ali Abdul-Jabbar Resigned 31 March 2025 8th Hussein Abdul-Wahed 12 April 2025
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Luay Salah Mutual consent 2 April 2025 4th Ali Abdul-Jabbar 6 April 2025
Karbala Hassan Ahmed Sacked 4 April 2025 19th Abbas Attiya 6 April 2025
Al-Hudood Thair Jassam Resigned 5 April 2025 20th Hamza Hadi 5 April 2025
Al-Najaf Abdul-Ghani Shahad 21 April 2025 12th Wali Kareem 23 April 2025
Zakho Talal Al-Bloushi 26 April 2025 3rd Abdul-Ghani Shahad 28 April 2025
Duhok Mesut Meral 19 May 2025 7th Amir Azrafshan 24 May 2025
Duhok Amir Azrafshan 29 June 2025 8th Soliman Ramadan 29 June 2025

Registration rules

The rules for the squad selection of the Iraq Stars League:[4]

  • Each team must submit a 25-man squad for the league.
  • Each team must have no more than six foreign players in their squad. This restriction does not apply to players from Yemen, and does not apply to a maximum of one player from Syria.
  • Each team must have no more than six foreign players on the pitch at any given time.
  • No more than two players from countries that are outside the top 90 in the FIFA Men's World Rankings can play at any given time. The two permitted players from countries outside the top 90 must be capped for their respective national teams.
  • Teams are not permitted to sign a foreign goalkeeper.
  • Players registered for reserve or youth teams are not required to be registered in the 25-man squad.

Transfer windows

Main articles: List of Iraqi football transfers summer 2024 and List of Iraqi football transfers winter 2024–25

The summer transfer window in Iraq started on 2 August and ended on 2 October 2024, while the winter transfer window started on 5 January and ended on 5 February 2025.[5]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Al-Shorta (C) 38 26 9 3 75 23 +52 87 Qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite league stage
2 Al-Zawraa 38 23 8 7 56 28 +28 77 Possible qualification for the AFC Champions League Two group stage[a]
3 Zakho 38 20 11 7 57 25 +32 71 Possible qualification for the AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League group stage[b]
4 Al-Talaba 38 18 9 11 40 27 +13 63
5 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 38 17 9 12 51 43 +8 60
6 Al-Naft 38 15 14 9 32 27 +5 59
7 Duhok 38 16 9 13 45 41 +4 57
8 Al-Karma 38 15 11 12 43 35 +8 56
9 Newroz 38 14 11 13 46 41 +5 53
10 Al-Qasim 38 13 13 12 43 43 0 52
11 Naft Maysan 38 14 9 15 42 46 −4 51
12 Erbil 38 15 5 18 49 61 −12 50
13 Al-Kahrabaa 38 12 13 13 39 41 −2 49
14 Al-Najaf 38 12 12 14 40 36 +4 48
15 Al-Karkh 38 12 10 16 40 49 −9 46
16 Al-Minaa 38 11 10 17 39 44 −5 43
17 Diyala 38 10 11 17 31 50 −19 41
18 Naft Al-Basra 38 8 8 22 32 58 −26 32 Qualification for the relegation play-off
19 Al-Hudood (R) 38 8 2 28 37 79 −42 26 Relegation to the Iraqi Premier Division League
20 Karbala (R) 38 4 10 24 26 66 −40 22
Source: IPFL
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; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ If Zakho do not win the 2024–25 Iraq FA Cup, the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two group stage spot will be passed to Al-Zawraa.
  2. ^ If Zakho win the 2024–25 Iraq FA Cup, the 2025–26 AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League group stage spot will be passed to Al-Zawraa.

Results

Home \ Away HUD KAH KKH KRM MIN NFT NJF QSM QWJ SHR TLB ZWR DYL DHK ERB KRB NFB NFM NEW ZAK
Al-Hudood 2–1 2–1 0–3 3–2 0–1 0–1 2–4 2–3 0–1 1–3 0–2 1–0 1–4 0–1 0–1 0–3 1–0 1–2 1–3
Al-Kahrabaa 1–2 2–0 4–1 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–2 0–1 1–1 1–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 0–3
Al-Karkh 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 1–4 2–1 3–1 2–4 2–4 2–1 1–0 0–2 2–2 1–1
Al-Karma 3–1 1–1 0–1 0–1 0–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–4 1–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–0 0–0
Al-Minaa 2–1 0–2 1–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 0–1 2–3 1–0 3–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 2–0 1–0 1–5 0–0
Al-Naft 2–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–2 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 0–2 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–1 2–0
Al-Najaf 3–1 2–0 0–1 0–3 3–2 1–1 1–0 4–0 0–0 2–0 1–2 2–0 0–1 1–2 3–2 0–0 4–1 0–1 0–0
Al-Qasim 3–2 0–0 1–1 1–3 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–1 2–2 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 4–0 1–0 2–1 1–2 1–0 0–2
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 2–0 2–2 0–1 1–0 2–1 0–0 3–0 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 4–0 1–2 1–0 2–1 4–2 2–0 1–0
Al-Shorta 3–1 2–0 1–0 2–2 1–1 4–0 1–0 2–2 4–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 0–0 4–1 4–0 3–1 3–3 2–2 0–1
Al-Talaba 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 0–1 1–1 3–1 0–0
Al-Zawraa 3–2 3–0 2–1 2–0 2–1 3–1 1–1 1–2 3–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 4–0 1–0 3–0 1–0 1–0 2–3
Diyala 2–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 0–6 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 2–2 3–1 1–4 1–4
Duhok 1–1 0–0 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–3 1–0 0–1 3–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–4 1–0
Erbil 3–1 4–3 1–3 1–1 0–1 2–3 0–0 0–1 0–2 0–2 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 3–1 4–1 3–2 0–1 0–0
Karbala 2–3 0–0 1–1 0–2 1–0 2–4 1–1 3–3 1–4 0–1 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–3[a] 0–2 2–1 1–3 0–0 1–0
Naft Al-Basra 3–1 2–1 1–0 0–5 0–1 0–0 0–3[b] 2–2 1–2 1–3 0–2 0–0 1–0 0–1 4–3 0–0 0–1 2–0 2–3
Naft Maysan 3–1 2–0 1–2 3–2 2–0 0–0 3–1 0–1 0–1 0–4 1–0 0–2 0–1 0–2 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–1
Newroz 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–3 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 0–1 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 3–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–2 0–0
Zakho 4–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 6–2 2–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 2–2 3–1 5–0 2–1 0–1 1–1
Source: IPFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
Notes:
  1. ^ The Karbala–Duhok match was ended during injury time with the score at 2–1 to Duhok after assistant referee Hussein Falah was hit with a stone thrown by a Karbala fan and taken to hospital. The match was subsequently awarded as a 3–0 win for Duhok.[6]
  2. ^ The Naft Al-Basra–Al-Najaf match originally ended in a 0–0 draw but was changed to a 3–0 win for Al-Najaf due to Naft Al-Basra fielding the ineligible player Habib Omar Fofana.[7]

Relegation play-off

The 18th-placed team in the Stars League will compete in a play-off with the winner of the play-out round between the 3rd and 4th-placed teams from the Premier Division League for a place in next season's Stars League. If the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, there will be no extra time played and the game will go straight to a penalty shootout.

Naft Al-BasravAmanat Baghdad

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player Team Goals
1 Mohanad Ali Al-Shorta 27
2 Gustavo Henrique Zakho 17
Marwan Hussein Newroz
4 Saif Rasheed Al-Qasim 15
Ifeanyi Eze Al-Karkh

Hat-tricks

Main article: List of Iraq Stars League hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Reference
Mohanad Ali Al-Shorta Diyala 6–0 (A) 26 September 2024 [8]
Mohanad Ali Al-Shorta Erbil 4–1 (H) 4 January 2025 [9]
Marwan Hussein Newroz Al-Minaa 5–1 (A) 4 February 2025 [10]
Gustavo Henrique Zakho Al-Qasim 6–2 (H) 9 February 2025 [11]
Mohanad Ali Al-Shorta Naft Maysan 4–0 (A) 13 March 2025 [12]
Youssouf Oumarou Al-Karma Al-Qasim 3–1 (A) 7 May 2025 [13]
Mohammed Jawad Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Karbala 4–1 (A) 13 May 2025 [14]
Notes

(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Awards

Manager of the Month

Month Manager Team Reference
October Adel Nima Al-Naft [15]
November Ghazi Fahad Al-Karma [16]
February Talal Al-Bloushi Zakho [17]
March Talal Al-Bloushi Zakho [18]
April Ayman Hakeem Al-Qasim [19]
May Ahmed Khalef Al-Karma [20]
June Ahmed Khalef Al-Karma [21]

References

  1. ^ Almaalouma (13 August 2024). "المدربون الأجانب في دوري نجوم العراق". Almaalouma (in Arabic). Almaalomah.
  2. ^ "الشرطة يحتفظ بلقب الدوري العراقي" (in Arabic). Kooora. 20 June 2025.
  3. ^ "موازين تنشر تفاصيل اجتماع اندية دوري نجوم العراق" (in Arabic). Mawazin. 13 August 2024.
  4. ^ "اتحاد الكرة العراقي يعتبر اللاعب اليمني "لاعباً محلياً" في دوري النجوم" (in Arabic). Shafaq. 20 August 2024.
  5. ^ "فترةُ الانتقالاتِ الصيفيّة والشتويّة للموسم 2024/2025". facebook.com (in Arabic). August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  6. ^ "بمباراة "دموية".. فوز دهوك على كربلاء في دوري نجوم العراق" (in Arabic). Shafaq. 7 January 2025.
  7. ^ "نادي النجف يعلن عن كسب قرار الاستئناف بخصوص مباراتهم مع نفط البصرة وكسبهم ثلاث نقاط بعدما تم ردهُ سابقاً من قبل لجنة الانضباط" (in Arabic). Karbala Sport. 25 June 2025.
  8. ^ "طوفان الشرطة يجتاح ديالى" (in Arabic). Kooora. 26 September 2024.
  9. ^ "بـ"هاتريك ميمي".. الشرطة يقسو على أربيل برباعية في دوري نجوم العراق". شفق نيوز (in Arabic). Shafaq. 4 January 2025.
  10. ^ "نوروز يكتسح الميناء وانتصاران للكرخ وزاخو في دوري نجوم العراق" (in Arabic). Iraqi News Agency. 4 February 2025.
  11. ^ "بالصور: زاخو يستعرض عضلاته بسداسية في القاسم" (in Arabic). Kooora. 9 February 2025.
  12. ^ "الشرطة يقسو على نفط ميسان في ليلة مهند علي" (in Arabic). Kooora. 13 March 2025.
  13. ^ "بالصور.. "هاتريك" أومارو يسقط القاسم علي" (in Arabic). Kooora. 7 May 2025.
  14. ^ "هاتريك محمد جواد يقود القوة الجوية لعبور كربلاء برباعية" (in Arabic). Yalla Shoot. 13 May 2025.
  15. ^ "الإعلان عن تشكيلة الجولة الرابعة واللاعب الأفضل ومدرب الشهر" (in Arabic). Iraq Stars League. 27 October 2024.
  16. ^ "غازي فهد ينال لقب الأفضل لشهر تشرين الثاني بعد 3 مباريات فوز وتعادل واحد" (in Arabic). Iraq Stars League. 29 November 2024.
  17. ^ "قاد فريقه إلى الصدارة بجدارة ...مدرب زاخو طلال البلوشي افضل مدرب لشهر شباط" (in Arabic). Iraq Stars League. 16 February 2025.
  18. ^ "للمرة الثانية على التوالي.. مدرب زاخو طلال البلوشي افضل مدرب لشهر اذار" (in Arabic). Iraq Stars League. 16 March 2025.
  19. ^ "بعد احرازه نتائج ايجابية.. مدرب فريق القاسم ايمن الحكيم يحصل على لقب الافضل لشهر نيسان" (in Arabic). Iraq Stars League. 20 April 2025.
  20. ^ "مدرب فريق الكرمة احمد خلف يحصل على لقب الافضل لشهر ايار" (in Arabic). Iraq Stars League. 11 May 2025.
  21. ^ "أحمد خلف.. الأفضل في شهر التألق – مدرب الكرمة يحصد جائزة مدرب الشهر" (in Arabic). Iraq Stars League. 23 June 2025.
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