The Iraq national football team represents one of the most storied footballing nations in the Middle East, competing under the governance of the Iraq Football Association. Iraq has long been a participant in Asian continental competition, with its clubs and national side forming a central part of the Asian Football Confederation's competitive landscape across several decades.
At the club level, Iraqi football's relationship with AFC competitions has been a defining thread of the country's footballing identity. Iraqi clubs entered the AFC Champions League from its modern format in 2002, though none progressed beyond the group stage in that era. Following the AFC's restructuring in 2009, Iraqi clubs competed in the AFC Cup — the second-tier continental club competition — where they found considerable success. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya became the standard-bearer of that era, winning the AFC Cup three consecutive times in 2016, 2017, and 2018, a remarkable run that underscored the growing strength of domestic Iraqi football. Iraqi clubs returned to the AFC Champions League group stage in 2019, signaling a renewed elevation of the league's standing within the continent.
The Iraq Stars League serves as the top domestic competition, producing clubs that have represented the country with distinction in Asia. The national team itself has historically drawn from this competitive domestic base, and the federation continues to develop the game at all levels. In the current decade, Iraqi football has maintained its presence in both Asian club competition and FIFA World Cup qualifying cycles, remaining an active and competitive force in the AFC.