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May 13, 2026
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The World's Longest Football Derby: New Zealand's 386-Mile Rivalry

AI Summary
The article explores the world's longest football derby, with the New Zealand derby between Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix holding the record at 386 miles. It compares this with other notable long-distance derbies across the globe, including the Cumbrian derby in England and the Derby delle Isole in Italy.

The World's Longest Football Derby

Carlisle and Barrow will play each other next season in the Cumbrian derby in the National League. The clubs are located at opposite ends of Cumbria and the distance between the two grounds is some 78 miles by car. But this is not the greatest distance between two teams involved in a 'derby'.

When considering derbies, we are looking for matches between teams that are linked based upon their proximity or geography, rather than simply historical rivalries like the 'clásico' between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

UK Derbies: The Cumbrian Contender

Within the UK, the Cumbrian derby certainly looks the furthest derby by distance. If we are staying in England, the closest we can get to 78 miles is the A49 derby between Shrewsbury Town and Hereford United, separated by 51 miles, although it should be said that the two teams have not met since the latter was dissolved in 2014.

In England, thoughts immediately go to Crystal Palace and Brighton, dubbed the M23 derby, but a quick search reveals that Selhurst Park is a mere 46 miles from the Amex Stadium. It is also 46 miles that separate the stadiums of Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, the Devon derby. Just behind are Ipswich and Norwich – the East Anglian derby (AKA El Tractico or the Old Farm) – with Portman Road and Carrow Road 45 miles apart.

International Long-Distance Derbies

Farther afield, we must mention the derby between Persib Bandung and Persija Jakarta, who take part in the Indonesia derby, or Laga Klasikal as it is locally known, with Persib's Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium lying 108 miles away from Persija's Jakarta International Stadium in Indonesia's capital.

Italy is fertile ground for a host of famous derbies, and it is here that we find some of the longest-distance derbies. Of course there is the Derby d'Italia between Milan and Juventus, with 85 miles separating San Siro and Juve's Allianz Arena in Italy's north-west. The Derby di Sicilia between Palermo and Catania spans a whopping 134 miles across the breadth of Sicily, while the Derby delle Isole (Derby of the Islands) between Palermo and Sardinian club Cagliari goes even further – a full 250 miles across the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The Champion: New Zealand's 386-Mile Derby

Our winner, though, comes from New Zealand's North Island. With Auckland FC only entering the A-League Men in 2024-25, the New Zealand derby between themselves and Wellington Phoenix is still very much in its infancy but has already blossomed into something substantial. In February, just the sixth edition of the derby, a comical own goal from Wellington goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi sparked a 5-0 thrashing by Auckland, prompting Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano to resign immediately after the defeat. With 386 miles between the two grounds, the NZD is our clear winner.

The Evolution of Geographic Derbies

The existence of such long-distance derbies challenges our traditional understanding of what constitutes a local rivalry. In an era where football has become increasingly globalized, these geographic matchups represent unique connections between communities separated by vast distances. The New Zealand derby, in particular, showcases how even in a country with a relatively small population, football can create intense rivalries across significant geographical divides.

The Future of Long-Distance Derbies

As football continues to evolve, we may see more long-distance derbies emerge, particularly in regions with expanding leagues or where new clubs are formed to serve underserved areas. The New Zealand derby between Auckland and Wellington Phoenix is a prime example of how modern football infrastructure and scheduling can create meaningful rivalries regardless of distance. With the increasing popularity of travel and fan engagement, these long-distance derbies may become even more significant in the future of football culture.

Double Winners in Football

Deji Elerewe has won the title with both Bromley (League Two) and Lincoln (League One) this season. Has any other player managed the same feat?

We covered this answer 10 years ago in a previous Knowledge, but regular contributor Dirk Maas has come in clutch with some additions, although he does clarify that he has limited his search to the top five leagues in Europe in this century.

There are several examples of players winning titles with different teams in the same season, including:

  • Jonas Urbig with Köln (2. Bundesliga) and Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) in 2024-25
  • Leigh Griffiths with Celtic (Scottish Premiership) and Wolverhampton (League One) in 2013-14
  • Urby Emanuelson with Ajax and Milan in 2010-11
  • Daniel Amartey with Leicester City and FC Copenhagen in 2015-16
  • Timothy Weah with Paris Saint-Germain and Celtic in 2018-19
  • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with Napoli and PSG in 2024-25

There are also alternative cases where seasons happen at different times of year, such as David Beckham achieving this by picking up an MLS winner's medal with LA Galaxy and a Ligue 1 winner's medal with Paris Saint-Germain in 2012-13.