Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Football Association announced on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, that Iraq has been officially granted two qualifying spots in the upcoming 2026/2027 Gulf Club Champions League. The executive decision, handed down by the Gulf Cup Football Federation, marks a significant competitive upgrade for the country’s domestic football tier.
This expanded allocation comes as a direct result of Iraqi football clubs climbing to Tier A (First Classification) within the regional ranking system. The upgrade reflects a string of highly successful recent campaigns by Iraqi teams on the Gulf stage. Specifically, Duhok SC secured the championship title two seasons ago, while Zakho SC successfully battled their way to the semi-final round during the tournament’s most recent edition.
In an official statement, the Iraqi Football Association confirmed that the Gulf Cup Football Federation formalized the two-seat expansion on Tuesday. By promoting Iraq to the elite Tier A bracket, the regional governing body has doubled the nation’s participation rights for the upcoming tournament cycle.
This structural milestone rewards the rising technical caliber of the Iraqi Stars League, opening the door for two domestic powerhouses to represent the nation simultaneously in the prestigious regional competition.
