{{Infobox football league | name = Iraqi Premier Division League | image = Dawri Al-Mumtaz logo (2023).png | pixels = 150px | country = Iraq | founded = {{start date and age|1974}} | teams = 20 | promotion = Iraq Stars League | relegation = Iraqi First Division League | levels = 2 | domest_cup = Iraq FA Cup | league_cup = | confed_cup = AFC Champions League Two<br />(via Iraq FA Cup) | champions = Al-Jolan (1st title) | most_champs = Al-Minaa<br>Al-Mosul<br>(3 titles each) | season = 2025–26 | tv = Al-Iraqiya Sports | website = | current = 2025–26 Iraqi Premier Division League }}
The '''Iraqi Premier Division League''' ({{langx|ar|دوري الدرجة الممتازة العراقي}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/AlRabiaaSports/posts/pfbid02yktULzq8rsBoA5MQANCWiZgaAykokrEGsqhLVyRqvQiS4VfaAKi9QoFzW8Gity82l|title=في دوري الدرجة الممتازة تعادل فريق ديالى مع غاز لشمال من دون أهداف|publisher=Al-Rabiaa Sports|date=23 December 2023|language=ar}}</ref> is the second-highest division of the Iraqi football league system after the Iraq Stars League. The league is contested by 20 clubs and is operated by the Iraq Football Association (IFA). The current format sees 20 teams playing 38 matches each (playing each team in the league twice, home and away), totalling 380 matches in the season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=اعتماد تصنيف وآلية وموعد انطلاق دوري الدرجة الأولى |url=https://ifa.iq/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%81-%D9%88%D8%A2%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A7-5314//|access-date=2021-08-10|website=ifa.iq|language=ar}}</ref>
Each season, the two top-finishing teams in the Premier Division League are automatically promoted to the Stars League. The third and fourth-placed teams compete in a play-off match, with the winner qualifying for the promotion play-off match against the 18th-placed team from the Stars League. The two lowest-finishing teams are relegated to the First Division League, while the 18th-placed team enters a relegation play-off with the third-placed team from the First Division League.<ref>{{Cite web|title=تغيير في آلية التأهل والهبوط بالدرجة الاولى|url=https://almaalomah.me/news/sports/%D8%AA%D8%BA%D9%8A%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A2%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A3%D9%87%D9%84-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%D9%89|date=8 April 2023|website=almaalomah.me|language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=بالوثيقة.. تغيير آلية الصعود والهبوط في الدوريين الممتاز والأول|url=https://baghdadtoday.news/218137-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%A9.-%D8%AA%D8%BA%D9%8A%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A2%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84.html|date=8 April 2023|website=baghdadtoday.news|language=ar}}</ref>
In the 2023–24 season, the competition's name was changed from First Division League to Premier Division League. The current champions are Al-Jolan, who won the title in the 2025–26 season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=الميناء بطلا لدوري الدرجة الأولى بعد فوزه على الامانة|url=https://shafaq.com/ar/%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%80%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%A9/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%88%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%87-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A9|date=2 June 2023|website=shafaq.com|language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=بالصور.. الميناء يتوج بلقب دوري الدرجة الأولى على حساب بغداد|url=https://m.kooora.com/default.aspx?n=1245038|date=2 June 2023|website=kooora.com|language=ar}}</ref> Al-Minaa and Al-Mosul are the record holders in the tournament having won three titles each.<ref>{{Cite web|title=الميناء يحرز لقب دوري الدرجة الاولى للموسم 2022/ 2023|url=https://www.al-mirbad.com/detail/138719|date=2 June 2023|website=al-mirbad.com|language=ar}}</ref>
==Competition name== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:center" !Period !Name |- |1974–1995||National Clubs Second Division League |- |1995–1999||First Division League |- |1999–2000||Second Division League |- |2000–2002||First Division League |- |2002–2003||Second Division League |- |2003–2023||First Division League |- |2023–present||Premier Division League |}
=== Media perception and challenges === The Iraqi Premier Division League is colloquially known in the media as '''Dawri Al-Madhaleem''' ("Oppressed League"), a nickname reflecting the limited attention it receives from media outlets, governing bodies, and refereeing authorities. Clubs competing in the division often face significant financial constraints, and many operate with inadequate infrastructure and stadium facilities. Despite these difficulties, the league plays a crucial role in the development of Iraqi football and frequently serves as a platform for emerging players.<ref>{{Cite web|title=دوري الدرجة الاولى دوري مظاليم بإمتياز |url=https://ipoa.me/14732/|date=19 May 2021|website=ipoa.me|language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=دوري المظاليم.. قوة وتحدٍّ وإصرار |url=https://magazine.imn.iq/%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%A9/%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85-%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%91%D9%8D-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1/|date=30 May 2023|website=magazine.imn.iq|language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=المظاليم أولى بالاهتمام |url=https://alsabaah.iq/65324-.html|date=31 May 2023|website=alsabaah.iq|language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=تنظيم جيد لدوري المظاليم لكنه بحاجة إلى المزيد من الأضواء |url=https://www.azzaman-iraq.com/content.php?id=77673|date=7 June 2023|website=azzaman-iraq.com|language=ar}}</ref>
==List of champions==
{| |- |valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. ! Season ! Champion |- | '''1''' || 1974–75 || Al-Zawraa |- | '''2''' || 1975–76 || Al-Ittihad |- | '''3''' || 1976–77 || ''Multiple groups'' |- | '''4''' || 1977–78 || Al-Shabab |- | '''5''' || 1978–79 || Al-Bahri |- | '''6''' || 1979–80 || Al-Adhamiya |- | '''7''' || 1980–81 || Al-Ittihad |- | '''8''' || 1981–82 || Al-Mosul |- | '''9''' || 1982–83 || Wahid Huzairan{{efn|name=fn1|Now known as Kirkuk.}} |- | '''10''' || 1983–84 || Al-Rasheed |- | '''11''' || 1984–85 || ''Multiple groups'' |- | '''12''' || 1985–86 || Al-Bahri |- | '''13''' || 1986–87 || Al-Minaa |- | '''14''' || 1987–88 || ''Multiple groups'' |- | '''15''' || 1988–89 || Samarra |- | '''16''' || 1989–90 || Al-Minaa |- | '''17''' || 1990–91 || Al-Amana{{efn|name=fn2|Now known as Amanat Baghdad.}} |- | '''18''' || 1991–92 || Saad |} |valign="top"| {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. ! Season ! Champion |- | '''19''' || 1992–93 || ''Multiple groups'' |- | '''20''' || 1993–94 || ''No promotion'' |- | '''21''' || 1994–95 || ''No promotion'' |- | '''22''' || 1995–96 || Al-Sulaikh |- | '''23''' || 1996–97 || Diyala |- | '''24''' || 1997–98 || Duhok |- | '''25''' || 1998–99 || Erbil |- | '''26''' || 1999–2000 || ''No promotion'' |- | '''27''' || 2000–01 || Kirkuk |- | '''28''' || 2001–02 || Al-Mosul |- | '''29''' || 2002–03 || ''Multiple groups'' |- | '''30''' || 2003–04 || ''Abandoned'' |- | '''31''' || 2004–05 || ''Multiple groups'' |- | '''32''' || 2005–06 || ''Multiple groups'' |- | '''33''' || 2006–07 || ''Multiple groups'' |- | '''34''' || 2007–08 || ''Multiple groups'' |- | '''35''' || 2008–09 || ''Multiple groups'' |- | '''36''' || 2009–10 || Peshmerga{{efn|name=fn3|Now known as Peshmerga Sulaymaniya.}} |} |valign="top"| {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. ! Season ! Champion |- | '''37''' || 2010–11 || Al-Shirqat |- | '''38''' || 2011–12 || Sulaymaniya |- | '''39''' || 2012–13 || Al-Karkh |- | '''40''' || 2013–14 || ''Multiple groups'' |- | '''41''' || 2014–15 || Al-Samawa |- | '''42''' || 2015–16 || Al-Hussein |- | '''43''' || 2016–17 || Al-Diwaniya |- | '''44''' || 2017–18 || Al-Karkh |- | '''45''' || 2018–19 || Al-Qasim |- | '''46''' || 2019–20 || ''Abandoned'' |- | '''47''' || 2020–21 || Al-Sinaa |- | '''48''' || 2021–22 || Al-Hudood |- | '''49''' || 2022–23 || Al-Minaa |- | '''50''' || 2023–24 || Diyala |- | '''51''' || 2024–25 || Al-Mosul |- | '''52''' || 2025–26 || Al-Jolan |} |} {{notelist}}
===Most successful clubs=== {| class="wikitable" |- !Club !Titles !Winning seasons |- |Al-Minaa |style="text-align:center;"|3 |1986–87, 1989–90, 2022–23 |- |Al-Mosul |style="text-align:center;"|3 |1981–82, 2001–02, 2024–25 |- |Al-Ittihad |style="text-align:center;"|2 |1975–76, 1980–81 |- |Al-Bahri |style="text-align:center;"|2 |1978–79, 1985–86 |- |Kirkuk |style="text-align:center;"|2 |1982–83, 2000–01 |- |Al-Karkh |style="text-align:center;"|2 |2012–13, 2017–18 |- |Diyala |style="text-align:center;"|2 |1996–97, 2023–24 |- |Al-Zawraa |style="text-align:center;"|1 |1974–75 |- |Al-Shabab |style="text-align:center;"|1 |1977–78 |- |Al-Adhamiya |style="text-align:center;"|1 |1979–80 |- |Al-Rasheed |style="text-align:center;"|1 |1983–84 |- |Samarra |style="text-align:center;"|1 |1988–89 |- |Amanat Baghdad |style="text-align:center;"|1 |1990–91 |- |Saad |style="text-align:center;"|1 |1991–92 |- |Al-Sulaikh |style="text-align:center;"|1 |1995–96 |- |Duhok |style="text-align:center;"|1 |1997–98 |- |Erbil |style="text-align:center;"|1 |1998–99 |- |Peshmerga Sulaymaniya |style="text-align:center;"|1 |2009–10 |- |Al-Shirqat |style="text-align:center;"|1 |2010–11 |- |Sulaymaniya |style="text-align:center;"|1 |2011–12 |- |Al-Samawa |style="text-align:center;"|1 |2014–15 |- |Al-Hussein |style="text-align:center;"|1 |2015–16 |- |Al-Diwaniya |style="text-align:center;"|1 |2016–17 |- |Al-Qasim |style="text-align:center;"|1 |2018–19 |- |Al-Sinaa |style="text-align:center;"|1 |2020–21 |- |Al-Hudood |style="text-align:center;"|1 |2021–22 |- |Al-Jolan |style="text-align:center;"|1 |2025–26 |}
==See also== * Iraq Stars League * Iraq FA Cup * Iraqi Super Cup
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://ifa.iq/ Iraq Football Association] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708071407/https://ifa.iq/ |date=2023-07-08 }}
{{Iraqi Division One}} {{Football in Iraq}} {{AFC second leagues}}
Category:Iraqi Premier Division League Category:Football leagues in Iraq Category:Second-level domestic association football leagues in Asia Premier Division League Category:Sports leagues established in 1974