2016 Al-Muthabara Cup

The 2016 Al-Muthabara Cup will be the 7th Al-Muthabara Cup and the first edition after it was discontinued in 2002. It is an annual Iraqi football match played between the winners of the previous season's Iraqi Premier League and Iraq FA Cup. The match will be contested by 2015–16 Iraq FA Cup winners Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, and Al-Zawra'a, champions of the 2015–16 Iraqi Premier League. It will be held at Al-Shaab Stadium on 22 August 2016, almost a month before the start of the league season kicks off.

Background
Al-Zawra'a qualified as champions of the 2015–16 Iraqi Premier League. They all but secured their record 13th title after then-second place Naft Al-Wasat drew 2–2 to Al-Mina'a at Al-Shaab Stadium on 20 May 2016. It will be their 6th Al-Muthabara Cup, only missing the 2002 edition and winning a record of three titles.

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya qualified as winners of the 2015–16 Iraq FA Cup. They defeated Al-Zawra'a, the league champions, in their last match together 2–0 on 29 May 2016 to win their fourth title. Bashar Rasan scored the first goal in the 58th and the second was scored by Humam Tariq in stoppage time. It will be their 5th Al-Muthabara Cup, having won two titles.

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya's coach, Basim Qasim will face the club he led to achieve last season's league.