Iraqi Third Division League

{{Infobox football league

| name = Iraqi Third Division League

| image = Iraqi Third Division League logo.png

| pixels = 225

| country = Iraq

| founded = {{start date and age|2024}}

| teams =

| promotion = Iraqi Second Division League

| relegation =

| levels = 5

| domest_cup = Iraq FA Cup

| league_cup =

| confed_cup = AFC Champions League Two
(via Iraq FA Cup)

| champions = Al-Sinaat Al-Harbiya (1st title)

| most_champs = Al-Sinaat Al-Harbiya
(1 title)

| tv =

| season = 2024–25

| website =

| current =

}}

The Iraqi Third Division League is a football league that is the fifth tier of the Iraqi football league system.{{cite web|url=https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1177880|title=غدا .. اربع مواجهات في دوري محافظة ديالى لكرة القدم|publisher=Nina News|language=ar|date=2 January 2025}} The league was established in 2024.{{cite web|url=https://alrased.news/2024/12/22/%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%AF/|title=قرعة دوري الدرجة الثالثة العراقي لأندية كركوك|language=ar|date=22 December 2024|publisher=Al-Rased News}}

In the 2024–25 season, Al-Sinaat Al-Harbiya won the championship title after defeating New Sirwan 2–1 in the final match.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1292072198942747&set=a.280273083456002|title=المباراة النهائية لدوري الدرجة الثالثة للموسم 2024 / 2025|language=ar|publisher=Iraq Football Association|date=1 July 2025}}

League format

Each team can register up to 25 players in their squad list, and each club is required to have a formal establishment licence issued by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The format of the league for the inaugural 2024–25 season is as follows:{{cite web|url=https://x.com/Iraqispace90/status/1869290326265037051|title=الاتحاد العراقي لكرة القدم ينشر تعليمات دوري الدرجة الثالثة العراقي لكرة القدم|language=ar|publisher=مساحة الكرة العراقية|date=18 December 2024}}

=First stage=

Teams are split into 18 regional tournaments in accordance with the 18 governorates of Iraq. Each tournament is organised by the Iraq Football Association's sub-branch in that governorate (except for the tournament in Baghdad which is organised by the IFA Competitions Committee). A total of 42 teams qualify for the second stage.

=Second stage=

The 42 qualified teams are divided into five regions: Southern Region, Middle Euphrates Region, Western Region, Northern Region and Baghdad Region. The second stage matches are organised by the IFA Competitions Committee. Three teams from each region (15 teams in total) qualify for the third stage.

=Third stage=

The 15 qualified teams are divided into three groups of five teams each. Each team plays the other teams in their group home and away in a double round-robin format. The three group winners and the best second-placed team (four teams in total) qualify for the golden stage.

=Golden stage=

The four qualified teams enter the golden stage, where they are drawn into two home-and-away semi-final ties. The two winners of the semi-finals are promoted to the Iraqi Second Division League and also qualify for the final which is a single match at a neutral venue determine the league champions. The two losers of the semi-finals compete in a third place play-off, with the winner advancing to the promotion play-off where they face the 18th-placed team from the Iraqi Second Division League.

See also

References

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