The 2002–03 Iraq FA Cup was the 26thedition of the knockout competition, the main domestic cup in Iraqi football. It kicked off on 2 September 2002, and the final was played on 23 August 2003 at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil rather than at Al-Shaab Stadium in Baghdad due to security reasons. Al-Talaba were the defending champions of the cup after beating Al-Shorta 1–0 in the 2002 final, and exactly the same was repeated one year later as Al-Talaba beat Al-Shorta 1–0 again to lift their second cup, preventing their rivals from completing their first League and FA Cup double in the process. The competition was halted for more than six months after the quarter-finals due to the American invasion of Iraq, but the Iraq Football Association decided to complete the tournament, moving the remaining three matches to the safer northern city of Erbil. The 2003 final was the last cup final until 2016, a full 13 years later.
Matches
First round
Second round
were automatically placed into the third round.
Playoff round
Al-Nahdha, Al-Sulaikh, Hatteen, Al-Kut and Al-Mashrou withdrew from the competition, leaving 34 teams remaining. A playoff round was held to eliminate two more sides in order to have 32 teams for the Round of 32.
Round of 32
Al-Shorta won 6–0 on aggregate. ---- Al-Mosul won 3–2 on aggregate. ---- Karbalaa won 4–0 on aggregate. ---- Al-Jaish won 2–1 on aggregate. ---- Al-Talaba won 3–2 on aggregate. ---- 3–3 on aggregate. Al-Sinaa won on away goals. ---- Al-Ramadi won 4–3 on aggregate. ---- Al-Difaa Al-Jawi won 3–2 on aggregate. ---- Al-Najaf won 2–1 on aggregate. ---- Al-Naft won 3–0 on aggregate. ---- 1–1 on aggregate. Al-Shuala won on away goals. ---- Al-Diwaniya won 2–0 on aggregate. ---- Al-Tharthar won 5–2 on aggregate. ---- Al-Basra won 7–1 on aggregate. ---- Brusk won 3–0 on aggregate. ---- 2–2 on aggregate. Al-Minaa won on away goals.
Round of 16
Al-Shorta won 11–1 on aggregate. ---- Al-Difaa Al-Jawi won 7–3 on aggregate. ---- Al-Najaf won 6–4 on aggregate. ---- Al-Minaa won 3–2 on aggregate. ---- Al-Mosul won 3–2 on aggregate. ---- Karbalaa won 5–3 on aggregate. ---- Al-Talaba won 3–0 on aggregate. ---- Al-Naft won 3–2 on aggregate.
Quarter-finals
1–1 on aggregate. Al-Minaa won on away goals. ---- 2–2 on aggregate. Al-Naft won on away goals. ---- Al-Talaba won 5–1 on aggregate. ---- Al-Shorta won 3–2 on aggregate.
