LALIGA has organised a Digital Strategy and Fan Engagement Workshop in Baghdad for clubs from the Iraq Stars League (ISL), the Iraq Premier League (IPL), and employees of the Iraq Football Association (IFA), as part of its wider consultancy project to support the professionalisation of football in Iraq.
Held over two days, the workshop focused on helping clubs design and implement effective, sustainable digital strategies centred on growth and deeper fan engagement. Participating clubs explored the core pillars of digital development, including content planning, audience growth, platform management, and long-term digital sustainability.
A key highlight was the introduction of LALIGA’s “Club Digital Office” programme, an innovative framework designed to help ISL clubs implement structured digital strategies. The initiative aims to raise professional standards, improve operational maturity, and strengthen the relationship between clubs and supporters.
LALIGA President Javier Tebas said the project reflects the league’s belief that football development depends on knowledge, structure, and people. Through its consultancy in Iraq, LALIGA is sharing expertise in areas such as coaching, professional management, and digital strategy, adapted specifically to the Iraqi football context.
IFA President Adnan Dirjal noted that the partnership is already delivering tangible progress, citing advances in audiovisual production, financial fair play, and grassroots football. He said workshops like this are essential for strengthening club professionalisation and that digital strategy is now fundamental to engaging fans of all ages.
Carlos Rodríguez Díaz, Director of the LALIGA Project in Iraq, described the workshop as a critical step in aligning Iraqi clubs with international digital standards. He said digital transformation is now a core driver of club growth and fan connection.
The workshop forms part of a broader strategic alliance between LALIGA and the IFA, which is driving structural reform across Iraqi football. Achievements to date include the creation of new youth national teams with more than 800 players being scouted, and the launch of the country’s first grassroots leagues involving over 4,000 players and 750 professionals.
On the management and operations side, Iraqi football leaders have participated in training immersions in Madrid covering match production, audiovisual protocols, infrastructure management, digital strategy, financial control, marketing, sponsorship, stadium operations, safety, competition organisation, and talent development.
The impact is already visible:
- 25% growth across ISL social media channels in the past five months
- More than 8.5 million combined followers across clubs, the IFA, and ISL
- Three million stadium attendees during the 2024–25 season
- A 25% increase in matchday attendance in the first seven rounds of the 2025–26 season
Since 2015, LALIGA has delivered more than 900 sports development projects across over 60 countries. Its global model spans federations, leagues, and clubs in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, with a Madrid-based expert team holding UEFA Pro qualifications and deep experience in elite football development.
Through its work in Iraq, LALIGA is positioning digital strategy as a foundational pillar of modern football, enabling clubs to grow sustainably, professionalise operations, and build lasting connections with fans
