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=
=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
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://ifa.iq/ Iraq Football Association]
{{Football in Iraq}}
{{AFC fifth leagues}}
Category:Football leagues in Iraq