With the recent declaration of a ceasefire between the PKK and Türkiye after 41 years of conflict, it is a timely moment to explore the significant Kurdish football clubs and teams that have played a key role in world football.
Amed SK: The Symbol of Kurdish Football in Türkiye
Amed SK, formerly known as Amedspor, is a club from Diyarbakır, Türkiye, and arguably the most famous Kurdish sports brand. The club boasts a large and passionate fan base in northern Kurdistan and has long been viewed as a representation of Kurdish identity in football. However, this association has made Amed SK one of the most controversial and polarizing clubs in Turkish football.
Founded in 1972 under a different name, Amed SK has frequently clashed with Turkish football authorities over its name and identity. Currently playing in the Turkish second division, the club also has a women’s and youth department.
Amed SK has been involved in multiple incidents with fans of clubs such as Fenerbahçe and Bursaspor. One of its most famous players was Deniz Naki, a former Germany U20 international who played for Bayer Leverkusen and St. Pauli before becoming a vocal critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In many ways, Amed SK serves as the de facto Kurdish national team within Türkiye.
Kurdish Clubs in Iraq: A Rich Footballing Legacy
Given the large Kurdish population in northern Iraq, it is no surprise that the region has several prominent football clubs.
Erbil SC, playing at the Franso Hariri Stadium, has won four Iraqi league titles and reached the AFC Champions League in 2008. The club also made it to the AFC Cup semifinals in 2011.
Duhok SC, another major Kurdish club, has won the Iraqi league title once and frequently competes at the top of the table.
Zakho SC, known as the “Sons of Khabour,” is a strong rival of Duhok SC and a significant presence in Kurdish football.
Slemani FC and Newroz Sulimaniya have also made their mark, with Newroz finishing as runners-up in the Iraqi Premier League in 2021.
However, Kurdish clubs in Iraq have faced challenges beyond the pitch. In the 2016/17 season, several clubs withdrew from the Iraqi Premier League in protest against perceived ethnic discrimination—an issue that continues to surface from time to time.
Dalkurd FF: The Kurdish Dream in Sweden
Dalkurd FF is one of the most well-known Kurdish football stories outside the Middle East. Founded in 2004 by Kurdish refugee Ramazan Kizil, the club started as a youth project and rose rapidly through the Swedish football system, eventually reaching the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s top division.
Despite its success, financial difficulties have led to Dalkurd’s decline, and the club currently competes in Sweden’s sixth tier. Nevertheless, its legacy as a Kurdish success story in European football remains intact.
Kurdish Clubs Across the World
The Kurdish diaspora has led to the formation of several football clubs worldwide, each carrying the spirit and identity of Kurdish football:
Kurdvin (Kurd Wien) – Based in Vienna, Austria, this club was established in 2017 and has earned back-to-back promotions, currently competing in the Austrian Öberliga (third tier).
FC Kurdistan Welat – Founded in Hamburg in 1988, this is one of the oldest Kurdish clubs in Germany.
Kurdish Canadian FC – Established by Kurdish immigrants in London, Ontario, this club aims to promote Kurdish identity and community through football.
Kurdistan National Team: A Footballing Nation Without a State
The Kurdistan national football team was established in 2006 and competes in non-FIFA tournaments, primarily through CONIFA, which represents stateless and unrecognized nations. The team was set to host the CONIFA World Cup in 2024, further showcasing the strong Kurdish presence in global football.
Additionally, Kurdistan operates its own Kurdish Premier League, separate from the Iraqi league system, with several Iraqi FA-recognized clubs participating.
The Power of Football in Kurdish Identity
Football has long been a medium for expressing Kurdish national and cultural identity. The presence of Kurdish clubs across different continents serves as a reminder of the region's complex history and aspirations. In many ways, these clubs symbolize the resilience and unity of a people who continue to assert their identity—both on and off the pitch.
Kurdish football is more than just sport; it is a reflection of history, struggle, and hope. And as the world watches, the story of Kurdish football continues to be written.
Ex-Socceroos boss Graham Arnold takes over Iraq's national team for final two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Korea and Jordan.