The Kurdistan Premier League (Kurdish: خولی نایابی کوردستان, romanized: Khuli Nayabi Kurdistan) is the foremost association football league in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, above the Kurdistan Second Division (Kurdish: خولی پلەیەکی کوردستا, romanized: Khuli Playaki Kurdistan) and Kurdish Third Division (Kurdish خولی پلە دوی کوردستان, romanized: Khuli Pla duy Kurdistan). It is overseen by the Iraqi Kurdistan Football Association.^[1] The league is not officially recognized by FIFA or any of its confederations, therefore cannot compete in their continental or intercontinental competitions.^[2] The season runs from August and finishes in May, with each playing twenty eight matches each. During the season, clubs compete for the Kurdistan Cup, which follows with the Kurdistan Super Cup, a contest held between league winners and the cup winners.

The current champions are Peshmerga Hawler SC, who have won their third league title.

History

The first season was the 2006/07 season, which saw Duhok Football Club crowned as the first champions.

Only nine clubs participated in the 2017/18 Kurdistan Premier League season, which did not start until February 2018 after five teams pulled out. Kurd striker Dyar Ali broke the record for highest goals scored, with 17 goals in one season, previously held by Brazilian striker Thiago Amaral with 12 goals in one season. The club with the highest cups is Zeravani SC with 4 cups, followed by Erbil SC with 3.

Current members

• Shaqlawa SC
• Peshmerge Hawler SC
• Brayati SC
• Handren SC
• Saidsadq SC
• Erbil SC (Hawler SC in Kurdish)
• Zakho FC
• Soran SC
• Sherwana SC
• New Sirwan SC
• Duhok SC
• Ararat SC
• Darbandikhan SC
• Akrè SC
• Chwarqurna SC
• Ranya SC

Champions

References