Al Quwa Al Jawiya face off against Nawruz in the start of the Stars League

The new season of the Iraqi Premier League kicks off with a grand football carnival, focusing on a match between the defending champions and a heavy visitor from the capital.

On an anticipated northern night, Al Quwa Al Jawiya will visit Nawruz FC at the Nawruz Stadium in Sulaymaniyah for the first round of the local championship.

This match will be the official opening of the 2026-2027 season, in a generous initiative from the management of Norouz Club, which has donated to host the season's opening ceremony.

The ceremony will see the attendance of prominent figures from the Iraqi Football Association, alongside a number of artistic and performance events organized to celebrate the return of the league.

According to sources from within the host club, tickets for the match sold out completely two days before it started, in a clear indication of the great fan passion that accompanies the beginning of the season, and the special relationship between the supporters of Nowruz and their team in its first official appearance this year.

The match will kick off at 9:30 PM Baghdad and Mecca time, at the Nouroz Stadium, which is expected to be filled to capacity with the colors of both teams.

The 'Falcons' enter the new season as champions, with a clear desire to defend the crown they won last season.

The team is led by the experienced Tunisian coach Fathi Jebali, who aims to establish his style from the very first match and give opportunities to several new names that the club has recruited during the summer transfer window.

Al-Jaish fans are counting on a strong start away from home to send an early message that the team is on track for dominance. A win in the opener will provide the players with a significant morale boost before entering the long competition, and it will also serve as a real test of the harmony between the old elements and the new faces.

In contrast, Norouz FC understands that facing the defending champions in the opener is a unique opportunity, and the northern team will heavily rely on the factors of home advantage and their fans in an attempt to halt the "Falcons" early.

The club's management has worked during the summer to strengthen the squad with quality signings, described as good and well-considered, aiming to present a different appearance this season and compete for a higher position.

The coach and players of Nowruz will need to harness the crowd's enthusiasm and turn it into pressure on the pitch, on a night that could be a turning point in the team's journey.

The two teams met twice last season, with Al-Jawiya winning the first encounter and the second ending in a draw. The statistics give a psychological advantage to the visitors, but at the same time, they provide Newroz with the motivation to break this dominance in front of his fans on opening night.