Designing a Model for the Development of Football in Iraq
Keywords:
Football development, Iraq, structural modeling, fuzzy Delphi, sports managementAbstract
Objective: The objective of this study is to develop a comprehensive and localized model for the development of football in Iraq.
Methodology: This study employed an applied, mixed-method, and cross-sectional design. In the qualitative phase, key and secondary factors influencing football development in Iraq were identified through literature review and expert consultations, followed by screening using the fuzzy Delphi technique. In the quantitative phase, a researcher-made questionnaire based on the validated factors was distributed among 100 experts and stakeholders in Iraqi football. Qualitative analysis was performed using fuzzy Delphi, while quantitative analysis was conducted through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS. Reliability, validity, factor loadings, path coefficients, t-values, and model fit indices including R², Q², and f² were examined.
Findings: Findings revealed that among the seven main identified dimensions, managerial and governance factors, infrastructural-technical factors, and human-educational factors had the strongest impact on football development. All indicators exceeded the acceptance threshold in the fuzzy Delphi stage. The coefficient of determination (R² = 0.869) demonstrated a strong explanatory power of the model. All Q² values were above 0.35 and all f² values indicated strong effect sizes, confirming excellent predictive relevance and structural model adequacy.
Conclusion: The study concludes that the development of football in Iraq requires simultaneous attention to managerial, infrastructural, economic, educational, cultural, international, and technological dimensions. The validated and well-fitting model can serve as a strategic foundation for policymaking and planning in Iraq’s football development.
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