LaLiga Concludes Iraqi Football Partnership
LaLiga has concluded its football development and consultancy project with the Iraqi Football Association, bringing an end to more than three years of cooperation aimed at strengthening the country’s football structures.
The partnership began in 2023 and focused on improving professional competitions, developing young talent, strengthening governance and introducing new systems to support the long-term growth of Iraqi football.
LaLiga said the original agreement had expired and that discussions over a new framework for continued cooperation did not result in a fresh deal.
Despite the end of the partnership, the Spanish football organisation said the structures, systems and training programmes developed during the project would provide a foundation for Iraqi football to continue its development.
LaLiga President Javier Tebas said the organisation remained proud of the work completed during the three-year partnership.
The project involved a permanent LaLiga team working in Baghdad, supported by specialists from the organisation’s headquarters in Madrid and other international offices.
The partnership represented one of LaLiga’s major international football development initiatives and focused on transferring knowledge from one of Europe’s leading football competitions to Iraq’s domestic football system.
Professional Competitions Undergo Major Reforms
One of the major achievements of the partnership was the restructuring of Iraq’s first and second divisions.
The competition reforms included the participation of 20 teams and the organisation of hundreds of matches, alongside new systems to determine promotion, survival and relegation.
LaLiga also supported efforts to create clearer responsibilities within the Iraqi Football Association and the country’s competition structures.
A new approach to scheduling was also developed to better coordinate domestic competitions with national team commitments and continental club tournaments.
The reforms were designed to bring greater organisation and professionalism to Iraq’s domestic football calendar.
Financial management was another major area of focus.
The partnership supported the introduction of the first phase of a financial monitoring system for clubs.
Training programmes were organised, while licensing and appeals committees were established to strengthen regulatory structures within the game.
These changes were aimed at creating a more sustainable and professionally managed football environment.
VAR Introduced as Digital Systems Expand
The project also led to the introduction of Video Assistant Referee technology in Iraqi football.
VAR has become an important part of modern football, particularly in professional competitions where technology is increasingly used to support match officials.
Digitalisation was another important aspect of the partnership.
Players were registered through the MyIFA digital platform, which also introduced measures designed to address concerns around age manipulation.
The system was used to support the accreditation and registration of coaches, referees and match observers.
LaLiga’s involvement also extended beyond the senior professional game.
A talent development centre in Baghdad assessed more than 1,400 participants from dozens of institutions.
Selected players and coaches were subsequently placed under a data-based monitoring programme.
The youth development strategy was intended to create a stronger pathway for identifying and supporting future football talent.
FIFA Recognition Supports Talent Development
LaLiga also developed a three-year strategic plan for the Iraqi Football Association.
The plan received approval from FIFA and helped strengthen Iraq’s participation in international talent development programmes.
According to the project report, Iraq moved into a higher category within FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme.
The change also opened access to additional development funding.
The project therefore combined immediate football reforms with longer-term efforts to improve the development of players, coaches, referees and football administrators.
The strategy reflects a growing global trend in football where successful development increasingly depends on strong institutions as much as talent on the pitch.
Partnership Ends but Legacy Remains
The original contract expired in April 2026.
LaLiga said it continued to maintain its team and activities in Baghdad while the Iraqi Football Association completed its electoral process.
After new leadership emerged, both sides entered further discussions over a possible extension of the partnership.
LaLiga presented different technical and contractual options for continued cooperation, including additional support for refereeing development.
However, no new agreement was reached.
The Spanish organisation said it remains open to working with Iraqi football again in the future.
For Iraq, the challenge will now be to sustain the reforms and continue building on the systems introduced during the partnership.
The end of the agreement does not necessarily mark the end of the development journey.
Instead, it places greater responsibility on Iraqi football authorities to preserve and expand the structures established over the last three years.
