Round of 32 Knockouts Ignite the Iraq Cup with High-Stakes Fixtures
9 October 2025
Round of 32 Knockouts Ignite the Iraq Cup
The Iraqi Football Association's Competitions Committee held the draw for the Round of 32 of this season's Iraq Cup at the federation's headquarters in Baghdad, with a host of sporting and administrative figures in attendance.
The ceremony featured Ali Jabar, the First Vice President; Younis Mahmoud, the Second Vice President; board members Dr. Kownd Abdulkhaleq and Khalaf Jalal; the head of the Competitions Committee Dr. Firas Mutashar and his deputy Farat Jabar; along with representatives from the clubs.
The organizers announced that Round of 32 matches will be played on October 17 and 18, signaling a new phase in one of Iraq's oldest and most prestigious domestic tournaments.
The widely anticipated event saw Ali Jabar welcome attendees, praising the clubs' commitment and highlighting the competition's role in revealing new talents and generating surprises, noting that the Iraq Cup offers a stage beyond the regular league.
He also stressed that the federation has provided the administrative, organizational, and logistical support needed to ensure the event runs smoothly and fairly across all participating sides.
Dr. Firas Mutashar recalled last season's Cup as a showcase of excitement, intensity, and unexpected twists, and the committee's aim for even stronger competition this season to raise the tournament's value.
Deputy head Farat Jabar gave a detailed explanation of the draw mechanics and the competition format, explaining that the teams in this round come from last season's Premier League plus the clubs finishing 11th to 20th in the Stars League, along with Army and Peshmerga.
Matches will be single-elimination affairs, with penalties if tied after regulation and no extra time; all games will be held on natural-grass pitches, with artificial and unready venues excluded.
Results and expected clashes
The draw yielded a slate of high-profile ties: Hashd al-Shaabi against Al-Kahraba at the Electricity Stadium; Al-Jaish versus Erbil at Al-Jaish Stadium; Al-Sinaa against Al-Karkh at the Sinaa stadium.
Other fixtures include Fahd vs Naft Al-Basra at Al-Fayha, Mosul vs Diyala in Dohuk, Al-Masafi against Najaf, and the Electrical Industries facing Karbala.
The clash list also features Peshmerga vs Border, Naft al-Wusta vs Al-Mina, Al-Ghraf against Naft Missan, Al-Hussein vs Afak, Al-Communications versus Nasiriyah, Gaz al-Shamal vs Kadhimiya, Ramadi against Al-Jolan, Masafi al-Janub versus Amanat Baghdad, and Al-Bahri versus Missan.
A photograph captures the moment of the draw.
A historic competition
The Iraq Cup, launched in 1975, remains among the oldest and most important football competitions in the country. Zawraa holds the record with the most titles (over 16), with Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Al-Shorta, and Al-Talaba among long-time contenders.
The federation seeks to advance organizational transparency and stadium conditions and to provide robust logistical support to raise competitiveness at domestic and continental levels. Last season's Cup was won by Duhok after a penalty shootout against Zakho in the final, marking the first final appearance for both teams; in parallel, Al-Shorta clinched the league title and the Super Cup was postponed.
The draw promises a historic edition of the Iraq Cup, with a diverse field and a knockout format that could deliver drama on every pitch.
Punchline 1: If luck is a player, the ball is a magnet—every shot ends up in someone else’s net.
Punchline 2: And remember, in knockout football, the only thing truly on standby is the referee’s whistle—everything else is just drama and snacks.
