New Changes for Iraqi Premier League Clubs Ahead of 2026-2027 Season

The Iraqi Premier League clubs participating in the upcoming 2026-2027 season are facing a set of new decisions issued by the Iraqi Football Association, particularly regarding foreign player regulations during the current summer transfer window, as teams gear up for local and continental commitments.

The next season will see the participation of 20 clubs, which is the expected final number before the federation begins to reduce the competition to 18 teams. The aim of this reduction is to shorten the duration of the league, which is considered one of the longest in the region.

Sources revealed to "win" that the competitions committee has informed clubs that they are allowed to sign 7 foreign players during the current transfer period.

However, participation on the field will be limited to only 5 players, with 2 foreign players remaining on the bench.

The sources clarified that the federation aims through this decision to achieve a balance between benefiting from professionals and not affecting the opportunities of Iraqi players.

The new equation will ensure the presence of an Iraqi goalkeeper as a starter alongside 5 local players in the starting lineup, which the federation sees as sufficient to encourage clubs to develop their own talents.

The source added that the federation will also require Iraqi Premier League clubs to include young players in the official list for each match.

This step comes in response to the trend of most clubs towards signing ready players over the age of 30, which could harm the future of emerging talents if it continues.

According to the same sources, the federation has set mid-August as the start date for the new season.

This early timing occurs for the first time in years, following a series of delays that accompanied last season due to the Iraqi national team's commitments in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Therefore, it is expected that the season will conclude earlier than usual.

It is worth noting that Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya won the Iraqi Premier League title last season, breaking Al-Shorta's four-year winning streak.