2023–24 Iraq Stars League Explained

Competition:Iraq Stars League
Pixels:150px
Season:2023–24
Dates:26 October 2023 – 14 July 2024
Winners:Al-Shorta
(7th title)
Relegated:Amanat Baghdad
Naft Al-Wasat
Continentalcup1:AFC Champions League Elite
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Al-Shorta
Continentalcup2:AFC Champions League Two
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Continentalcup3:Gulf Club Champions League
Continentalcup3 Qualifiers:Duhok
League Topscorer:Aymen Hussein
(27 goals)
Highest Scoring:Karbala 3–5 Erbil
(19 February 2024)
Al-Shorta 4–4 Newroz
(4 May 2024)
Duhok 4–4 Al-Minaa
(1 July 2024)
Newroz 4–4 Erbil
(14 July 2024)
Matches:380
Total Goals:872
Longest Wins:8 matches
Al-Zawraa
Longest Unbeaten:23 matches
Al-Shorta
Longest Winless:31 matches
Naft Al-Wasat
Longest Losses:5 matches
Al-Qasim
Naft Al-Wasat
Prevseason:2022–23
(Iraqi Premier League)
Nextseason:2024–25

The 2023–24 Iraq Stars League was the 50th season of the highest tier football league in Iraq since its establishment in 1974, and the first season since launching as a professional league under the name Iraq Stars League. The season started on 26 October 2023 and ended on 14 July 2024, with the post-season play-offs held from 19–24 July 2024.[1]

Al-Shorta won the league title for the third season in a row, sealing the title in the penultimate round of the season by defeating Duhok 1–0. Al-Shorta also won the Iraq FA Cup title to secure the double.[2]

Overview

20 teams competed in the 2023–24 Iraq Stars League: 18 teams from the 2022–23 Iraqi Premier League, as well as Al-Minaa and Amanat Baghdad who were promoted from the 2022–23 Iraqi First Division League and both returned to the top tier after a one-year absence.[3] [4]

Teams

Clubs and locations

TeamManagerLocationStadiumCapacity
Al-Hudood Adel NimaBaghdadAl-Saher Ahmed Radhi Stadium5,150
Al-Kahrabaa Luay SalahBaghdadAl-Zawraa Stadium15,443
Haitham ShaabanBaghdadAl-Saher Ahmed Radhi Stadium5,150
Al-MinaaBasraAl-Minaa Olympic Stadium30,000
Al-Naft Basim QasimBaghdadAl-Madina Stadium32,000
Al-Najaf Abdul-Ghani ShahadNajafAl-Najaf International Stadium30,000
Al-Qasim Ayman HakeemBabilKarbala International Stadium30,000
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Razzaq FarhanBaghdadAl-Shaab Stadium35,700
Al-Shorta Moamen SolimanBaghdadAl-Shaab Stadium35,700
Al-Talaba Qahtan ChathirBaghdadAl-Shaab Stadium35,700
Al-Zawraa Essam HamadBaghdadAl-Zawraa Stadium15,443
Abbas ObeidAl-Madina Stadium32,000
Duhok Ahmed KhalafDuhokDuhok Stadium22,800
Erbil Samir BaboErbilFranso Hariri Stadium25,000
Karbala Chasib SultanKarbalaKarbala International Stadium30,000
Naft Al-Basra Haitham Al-ShaboulBasraAl-Minaa Olympic Stadium30,000
Naft Al-Wasat Emad AodaNajafAl-Najaf International Stadium30,000
Naft Maysan Ali Abdul-JabbarMaysanMaysan Olympic Stadium25,000
Newroz Nizar MahrousSulaymaniyaSulaymaniya Stadium15,000
Zakho Talal Al-BloushiDuhokZakho International Stadium20,000

League table

Regional competition play-offs

The four teams that finished 3rd to 6th competed in a play-off tournament to decide Iraq's participant in the 2024–25 Gulf Club Champions League. If a match ended in a draw after 90 minutes, there would be no extra time played and the game would go straight to a penalty shootout.[5]

Play-off final

Duhok qualified for the 2024–25 Gulf Club Champions League.

Relegation play-offs

Play-out round

The 17th and 18th-placed teams competed in a play-off, with the winner remaining in the Stars League and the loser advancing to the relegation play-off.

If the scores were level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time would be played. If the scores were still level after extra time, the 18th-placed team would advance to the relegation play-off due to their inferior league position.[5]

Relegation play-off

The loser of the play-out round competed in a play-off with the 3rd-placed team from the Premier Division League for a place in next season's Stars League. If the match ended in a draw after 90 minutes, there would be no extra time played and the game would go straight to a penalty shootout.[5]

Al-Qasim remained in the Iraq Stars League, while Peshmerga Sulaymaniya remained in the Iraqi Premier Division League.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player TeamGoals
1 Aymen HusseinAl-Quwa Al-Jawiya27
2 Mahmoud Al-MawasAl-Shorta20
3 Alaa Al DaliNaft Maysan18
Ibrahim GhaziAl-Hudood
5 Mohanad AliAl-Shorta16
Ibrahim TomiwaNewroz
Mohammed Qasim NassifErbil

Hat-tricks

See main article: List of Iraq Stars League hat-tricks.

Player For Against Result Date
4–0 (A)[6]
3–0 (H)[7]
4–2 (H)[8]
4–0 (A)[9]
5–3 (A)[10]
4–1 (A)[11]
4–1 (A)[12]
4–2 (H)[13]
William Jebor4 4–2 (H)[14]
Notes4 Player scored 4 goals
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dirjal: Iraq's qualification for the 2026 World Cup begins with the establishment of a professional league. Sports Asharq. 8 July 2023 . 9 July 2023. ar.
  2. Web site: لأول مرة في تاريخه.. الشرطة يتوج بطلاً لكأس العراق لكرة القدم. Shafaq. ar. 10 July 2024.
  3. Web site: Dirjal reveals undisclosed details about the Iraqi Pro League. Winwin. 9 July 2023. ar.
  4. Web site: Iraq signs 2 contracts with Spanish La Liga to develop Iraqi football. Xinhua. 9 July 2023.
  5. Web site: "الإهمال" يضع أندية العراق في مأزق. winwin.com. ar. 13 July 2024.
  6. Web site: هاتريك الدالي يقود نفط ميسان لانتصار تاريخي على الطلبة. Kooora. ar. 4 November 2023.
  7. Web site: هاتريك الدالي يقود نفط ميسان لتجاوز الميناء. Kooora. ar. 1 December 2023.
  8. Web site: "هاتريك لأيمن حسين".. الجوية يكرم وفادة الميناء برباعية في دوري نجوم العراق. Shafaq. ar. 10 February 2024.
  9. Web site: النفط يقسو على نفط الوسط برباعية نظيفة. Almaalomah. ar. 17 February 2024.
  10. Web site: "القلعة الصفراء" يخطف 3 نقاط من "العميد" في دوري نجوم العراق. Shafaq. ar. 19 February 2024.
  11. Web site: القوة الجوية يقسو على النفط ويعزز صدارته للدوري العراقي. Kooora. ar. 4 March 2024.
  12. Web site: بالصور.. نوروز يعطل الميناء في الدوري العراقي. Kooora. ar. 25 April 2024.
  13. Web site: بالصور.. نوروز يعطل الميناء في الدوري العراقي. Kooora. ar. 25 April 2024.
  14. Web site: سوبر جيبور ينصر الميناء على نفط الوسط. Kooora. ar. 18 June 2024.
  15. Web site: محمود المواس يتربع على عرش اللاعبين كأفضل لاعب في دوري نجوم العراق. Al-Shorta SC. 14 July 2024. ar.