Carlisle United and Barrow AFC are set to clash in the Cumbrian derby next season in the National League. The two clubs, positioned at opposite ends of Cumbria, are separated by a remarkable 78 miles by car, potentially making this the longest derby distance in football.

Key points to consider:

• The focus is on geographically linked teams, excluding historical rivalries.
• The A49 derby between Shrewsbury Town and Hereford United follows at 51 miles, although they haven’t met since 2014.
• Other notable English derbies include:
  • Crystal Palace vs. Brighton (M23 derby) at 46 miles.
  • Plymouth Argyle vs. Exeter City (Devon derby) also at 46 miles.
  • Ipswich Town vs. Norwich City (East Anglian derby) at 45 miles.
  • AFC Wimbledon vs. MK Dons at 60 miles.

Internationally, the Indonesia derby between Persib Bandung and Persija Jakarta spans 108 miles. In Italy, the Derby di Sicilia between Palermo and Catania covers 134 miles, while Palermo and Cagliari face off over 250 miles.

However, the clear winner emerges from New Zealand, where the derby between Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix boasts an astounding distance of 386 miles. This derby, still in its infancy, saw Auckland triumph 5-0 over Wellington in February, leading to the resignation of Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano.

As the debate continues, fans are invited to find derbies exceeding 386 miles based on proximity or geography.