2022–23 Iraqi Second Division League

The 2022–23 Iraqi Second Division League was the 49th season of what is now called the Iraqi First Division League, the third tier of the Iraqi football league system, since its establishment in 1974. The number of clubs in the league have varied throughout history for various reasons; in this season the number of clubs was 98 (in addition to 26 pre-qualified teams from the previous season, playing starting from the second round, so the total is 124 teams). The top four teams (top 2 teams in each group) in the Final Qualifiers were promoted directly to the second tier, while teams that fail to qualify for the second round and finish in the bottom positions in the group ranking table will be relegated directly to the third tier. The season is scheduled to start on 1 December 2022.

In the Ultimate competing round of the league, in the group 1, Al-Karma and Al-Gharraf were able to top the group after each of them achieved 19 points, while in the group 2, Ghaz Al-Shamal and Al-Fahad topped the group after each of them achieved 22 points. All four teams were promoted to the second tier.

It was decided on August 6, to hold the final match to determine the league champion, between the leaders of the group 1, Al-Karma, and the leaders of the group 2, Ghaz Al-Shamal.

The final match was held at Al-Shaab Stadium in Baghdad, and Al-Karma was able to beat Ghaz Al-Shamal by penalty kicks (4–3) after the end of the regular time of the match, with the two teams drewed (1–1).

Team changes
The following teams have changed division since the 2021–22 season:

To Iraqi Second Division League
 Promoted from Third Division League 
 * Abnaa Al-Madina
 * Al-Amir
 * Al-Aziziya
 * Al-Chibayish
 * Al-Dair
 * Al-Falluja
 * Al-Ghadeer
 * Al-Gharraf
 * Al-Hadbaa
 * Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi
 * Al-Intifadha
 * Al-Ishaqi
 * Al-Iskan
 * Al-Izza
 * Al-Jawhara
 * Al-Karma
 * Al-Mahanawiya
 * Al-Mahawil
 * Al-Maqal
 * Al-Osra
 * Al-Shabab Al-Basri
 * Al-Shaheed Arkan
 * Al-Siyaha
 * Al-Tijara
 * Al-Wajihiya
 * Al-Zaytoun
 * Al-Zubaidiya
 * Aliyat Al-Shorta
 * Anah
 * Habbaniyat Al-Sumood
 * Jenaain Babil
 * Kafaat Nineveh
 * Masafi Al-Shamal
 * Naft Al-Shamal
 * Qandeel
 * Taza

 Relegated from the First Division League 
 * Al-Alam
 * Babil
 * Ghaz Al-Shamal
 * Suq Al-Shuyukh

From Second Division League
 Promoted to the First Division League 
 * Al-Etisalat
 * Al-Hawija
 * Al-Jolan
 * Masafi Al-Wasat

 Relegated to Third Division League 
 * Al-Ahrar
 * Al-Amara
 * Al-Anbar
 * Al-Hamza
 * Al-Husseiniyah
 * Al-Khairat
 * Al-Fosfat
 * Al-Madhatyia
 * Al-Mohandessin
 * Al-Sadda
 * Al-Taliea
 * Al-Zaeem
 * Baladiyat Al-Nasiriyah
 * Bilad Al-Rafidain
 * Daquq
 * Ghaz Al-Janoob
 * Jalawla
 * Kahrabaa Al-Hartha
 * Khallat
 * New Sirwan
 * Peshwa
 * Salahaddin
 * Sarchinar
 * Shabab Al-Adil
 * Tarmi
 * Umm Qasr

Schedule
The Iraqi Second Division League starts with 98 clubs and ends with four qualified clubs according to three rounds, The teams that qualified for the second round last season and the teams that were relegated from the Iraqi First Division League in the 2021–22 season moved directly to play in the second round.

First round
The 98 clubs are divided into 16 groups depending on the location, except for the groups of Dohuk and Erbil, each group representing the governorate to which these clubs belong and is located within its borders.



1- Dohuk Group
There are no teams in Dohuk that play in this division.

3- Erbil Group
There are no teams in Erbil that play in this division.

Qualified teams
The 26 pre-qualified teams and the 27 teams coming from the first round are all divided into five groups by location, and these groups have sub-groups. The first from each group is considered a winner, the winning teams advance directly to the third round.

[a] Al-Karma replaced Al-Habbaniya.

Second round
The draw for the Central Euphrates Group and Southern Group regions was held on February 21, 2023,  and the Western Group on February 22, while the Northern Group draw was held in February 25.

Third round
The twelve qualified teams have been divided into two groups, and the first two teams from each group will be promoted to Iraqi First Division League, and the draw took place on May 30, 2023.

After the lottery was drawn between the qualified teams, Al-Qurna was replaced by Al-Kut, due to the appeal decision issued by the Football Association, as Al-Kut considered a winner over Suq Al-Shuyukh with a score 3–0 instead of the draw result with which the match ended, and thus Al-Kut has got on 13 points ahead of Al-Qurna who has 12 points.

Final


Match officials
 * Assistant referees:
 * Safin Qader
 * Thul-Faqar Khalil
 * Fourth official: Ahmed Ali Talib

Match rules
 * 90 minutes.
 * Penalty shootout if scores still level.
 * Maximum of five substitutions

Hat-tricks
4 Player scored 4 goals (H) – Home team (A) – Away team
 * Notes