Iraqi FA announces First Division competition format for 2026/2027

The Iraqi Football Association announced on Monday the competition format for the First Division for the 2026/2027 season, which will be held with 20 teams divided into two groups.

The federation said in its statement that the top three teams from each group will qualify for the final rounds, which will be played on a home-and-away basis.

The statement explained that the first- and second-placed teams from the final rounds will receive the two promotion spots to the Premier League.

On relegation, the federation indicated that the teams finishing tenth in each group will be relegated directly to the Second Division, while the ninth-placed teams will play home-and-away playoff matches, with the loser on aggregate relegated.