in the 2012–13 season, naft al-wasat failed again to qualify. in the groups stage, they became in top of group d, at 27 points, being won 7 matches, drawn in 5 and lost only one. in the second stage they had a big breakdown, finishing in 5th place in group 2, after winning only one match, drawing in 5 and losing 3. in the 2012–13 iraq fa cup, they reached the third round before being eliminated. in the first round, they defeated samawa 4–0, and in the second round they eliminated al-sinaat al-kahrabaiya by beating them 4–3 on aggregate (the first leg was 1–1 and the second leg was 3–2). in the third round, they lost the first leg to masafi al-wasat 2–1 and drew the second leg 2–2, being knocked out 4–3 on aggregate.<ref name="iraqi fa cup 2012/2013"></ref>