The Iraqi football champions are the winners of the highest league in Iraqi football. Following the establishment of the Iraq Football Association (IFA) in 1948, a regional league called the Iraq Central FA League was held for teams from Baghdad and its neighbouring cities, alongside three other regional leagues in Basra, Kirkuk and Mosul. These league championships lasted until 1973,[1] when the IFA established the first nationwide football league in Iraq by the name of Iraqi National League, which featured a mixture of clubs and institute teams.
After one season, a new clubs-only league competition was established, with many of the institute teams merging together or being replaced by sports clubs. The first season saw Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya achieving the league title.[2] The four "Popular Teams" of Baghdad (Al-Zawraa, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Al-Shorta and Al-Talaba), have dominated the now-called Iraqi Premier League over the years. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Al-Shorta have appeared in every season of the top-flight, while Al-Zawraa and Al-Talaba (known as Al-Jamiea at the time) made their first appearance in the top-flight in 1975–76.[2]
Al-Zawraa have won 14 titles, the most of any club.[3]Erbil are the only club outside of Baghdad to achieve more than one title, having won four titles, all in the 21st century.[4][5]
^ abcdAl-Shorta also finished in first place in 2013–14 but were not crowned champions due to the season ending prematurely, and were only considered as champions for the purpose of enabling admission into the AFC Cup.
^Erbil also finished in second place in 2013–14 but were not awarded as runners-up due to the season ending prematurely, and were only considered runners-up for the purpose of enabling admission into the AFC Cup.
Iraq
