Abstarct: The present study aimed to identify and prioritize the factors affecting the development of artificial intelligence literacy among faculty members of sport sciences in Iraq. This research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach (qualitative–quantitative). In the qualitative phase, after reviewing the most recent studies related to artificial intelligence and technology in sport, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 11 university faculty members in the fields of sport management and artificial intelligence, active researchers, and executive experts directly related to the research topic. Participants were selected using purposeful sampling, and the process continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The collected data were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis in line with the research objectives.The findings of the qualitative phase indicated that the factors influencing the development of artificial intelligence literacy among sport sciences faculty members could be classified into five main categories: individual factors, educational factors, organizational and institutional factors, infrastructural and technological factors, and socio-cultural factors. In the quantitative phase, baxsed on the factors extracted from the qualitative findings, a pairwise comparison questionnaire was developed and purposefully distributed among 15 experts and specialists in sport management. To prioritize the identified factors, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (Topsis) technique was employed. The results of the AHP analysis revealed that training and capacity building of faculty members and supportive organizational policies were the most important factors from the experts’ perspectives, whereas interest in learning was identified as the least important factor. Overall, the findings emphasize the necessity of systematic training, institutional support, and targeted policymaking to enhance artificial intelligence literacy among sport sciences faculty members in Iraq.