The 2025–26 Iraq FA Cup was the 36th edition of the Iraqi knockout football cup as a club competition, the main domestic cup in Iraqi football. 42 clubs from the top three tiers of the Iraqi football league system were set to participate in the competition.
The tournament began on 17 October 2025 with the first round, which was played between the ten lowest-placed clubs from the Iraq Stars League, all 20 clubs from the Iraqi Premier Division League and the two highest-placed clubs from the Iraqi First Division League based on league positions in the 2024–25 season. The next four highest-placed clubs from the Iraq Stars League entered the competition in the second round.
The top six Iraq Stars League clubs were set to receive a bye to the Round of 16, and the draw for the Round of 16 was held on 18 May 2026. However, the tournament was cancelled only nine days later, as the schedule clashed with the Iraq national team's participation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as well as the Iraq Olympic team's training camp in Turkey.
Schedule The rounds of the 2025–26 competition were scheduled as follows: Round Draw date Match datesFirst round9 October 202517–19 October 2025Second round2 November 20257–13 November 2025Round of 1618 May 20265 June 2026Quarter-finals8 June 2026Semi-finals14 June 2026Final18 June 2026
First round This round features 10 teams from the Stars League (level 1), 20 teams from the Premier Division League (level 2) and 2 teams from the First Division League (level 3). Duhok, Al-Karma, Newroz and Al-Qasim received byes to the second round.
Second round This round features 10 teams from the Stars League (level 1) and 10 teams from the Premier Division League (level 2). Al-Shorta, Al-Zawraa, Zakho, Al-Talaba, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Al-Naft received byes to the Round of 16.
Final phase The Iraq Football Association announced the cancellation of the tournament on 27 May 2026, nine days after the draw was held for the Round of 16. Bracket
References
External links Iraq Football Association