Balanced Showdowns Set for Iraq Cup Second Round

Second Round Draw Highlights

On Sunday, the Iraqi Football Association’s Competitions Committee conducted the draw for the second round of the Iraq Cup, with committee member Ghlaam Al-Zamali and secretary-general Mohammed Farhan in attendance along with representatives of the clubs involved.

The ceremony explained key points to clarify the path ahead, and it was announced that the second round would kick off on November 7-8 during the international break.

Additionally, clubs without their own home grounds were urged to specify their venues within 24 hours; failing that, matches would be moved to the opponents’ stadium.

Matches in this round will be played during the international window to determine the teams advancing in the competition.

Results of the draw

The draw produced 10 ties for the second round, listed below.

1. Erbil vs. Nasiriya

2. Mosul vs. Hashd

3. Al-Karma vs. Ramadi

4. Duhok vs. Al-Hussein

5. Norouz vs. Al-Bahri

6. Karbala vs. Amanat Baghdad

7. Naft Missan vs. Naft Basra

8. Al-Qasim vs. Gas Northern

9. Al-Masafi vs. Al-Minaa

10. Al-Karkh vs. Al-Hudood

In addition, several clubs—Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Air Force), Al-Shorta (Police), Al-Talaba (Students), Zakho, Al-Zawraa, and Naft—were exempted from competing in this round.

A new draw will soon determine the Round of 16 matchups along with the later knockout stages.

League restart and UAE tie

The Iraq Cup section sits within the broader context of the league, which is set to resume on November 21. The competition’s pause aligns with Iraqi national team coach Graham Arnold’s preference for players to enjoy a longer rest before facing UAE in the November qualifiers, with the away leg scheduled for November 13 and the return leg on November 18 in Basra to decide who advances to the global playoff.

The Iraqi national team will host the UAE on November 13 in the first leg, with the return on November 18 in Basra as the two sides battle for a spot in the World Cup/Asian playoff mix.

Standings and cup history

Six rounds of the Iraqi Premier League have been completed, with one match between Police and Zakho from the first round postponed. Erbil leads the league with 16 points, followed by Diyala on 13, level on goal difference with Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya. Al-Shorta sits fourth with 12 points, narrowly behind Al-Ghraf on goal difference, while Al-Karkh is sixth on 11 points, just behind Al-Talaba. Al-Karma sits eighth with 10 points, level on goal difference with Zakho and Al-Minaa. Naft Basra holds 11th with 9 points, behind Al-Zawraa, who have 8, and others trailing as the table develops.

In the historical arc of the Iraq Cup, the competition began on January 21, 1949, won by Naft Al-Basra in the inaugural era when it was restricted to institutions. The 1976 final marked the first club-only final, won by Al-Zawraa. Zawraa remains the most decorated club with 16 titles (last in 2019) and the deepest final run (19 finals) though they’ve fallen short in several years (1988, 2016, 2021). Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya is second with six titles, reaching the final four times but losing in 1989, 1998, 2000, and 2024. Teams such as Al-Shorta, Al-Drib, and others have claimed the trophy in the past, with Duhok the most recent winner in the last edition against Zakho on penalties last July.

Seven clubs reached the final rounds without lifting the cup: Al-Shabab, Al-Kahraba, Al-Baladiyat, Al-Khutut Al-Jawiyya, Naft Al-Wasti, Erbil, and Zakho. Al-Shabab has appeared in finals three times without triumph in 1983, 1984, and 1990.

Note: This season’s defending champions are Duhok, who defeated Zakho in the final on penalties last July. The clubs of Shabab, Al-Kahraba, and others have yet to clinch the title, while several sides continue to chase glory in the Iraq Cup.

Punchline time: If the Iraq Cup had a sniper, it would aim for the perfect goal every time—however, the joke always lands in the net, which is basically a goal with a punchline. Punchline 2: I asked my bets for the cup, and they said, “Go easy.” I said, “Sure, easy for you to miss the target—I’m aiming for the back of the net, not the punchline.”