All eyes are on François Hariri Stadium in Erbil on the evening of Wednesday, June 25, 2025, where the Erbil team will host their rival Duhok in a match that carries the character of the 'Northern Derby' as part of the 37th round of the Iraqi Stars League, at 7:00 PM.

Duhok is having a relatively acceptable season, currently sitting in seventh place in the standings with 54 points, and they hope to continue their good run to finish the season in the best possible position, especially since they still have the opportunity to advance further in the rankings if they achieve positive results in the last two rounds.

The team includes several prominent names that have made an impact this season, such as Brazilian player Gustavo Henrique, the league's second top scorer with 17 goals, who will be one of the key players relied upon by the coaching staff in the Northern Derby.

As for the Erbil team, they are in twelfth place with 47 points, hoping to take advantage of the home ground and crowd to achieve a positive result that preserves their dignity in a season characterized by much fluctuation in performance and results.

The match represents an ideal opportunity for the coaching staff to test some young names, especially given the team's exit from the relegation battle or competition, making the encounter an important stop to outline the features of next season's squad.

Although the match is considered a formality in terms of standings, the sensitivity of the geographical and historical derby between the two teams will give the encounter a special flavor, as matches between Duhok and Erbil have always witnessed intense competition and significant fan excitement, regardless of the teams' positions in the standings.