Northeast Derby or North-East Derby is the name given to the football matches played among the northeastern teams in the national leagues (ISL, IFL, I-League 2, and I-League 3) and cup competitions (Durand Cup and Super Cup).
The first match of a northeast derby in I-League was played between Shillong Lajong of Meghalaya and United Sikkim of Sikkim in Paljor Stadium, Gangtok on 8 December 2012 which ended in a goalless draw. United Sikkim got relegated at the end of the season while Shillong Lajong got relegated in 2018-19. Aizawl from Mizoram got promoted in 2015-16 but again got relegated at the end. They were promoted once again in the next season due to some reasons and became the champions. 2017-18 season saw the promotion of another northeastern team NEROCA from Manipur.
From 2013 to 2015 there were consecutive promotions and relegations of Meghalayan teams Rangdajied United (2013-14) and Royal Wahingdoh (2014-15). During this short tenure the two teams played against Shillong Lajong respectively in the Shillong Derby. The first match of the derby in I-League to be played was on 22 November 2013 between Shillong Lajong and Rangdajied United that ended in a 1âÂÂ1 draw. The next season the derby was played between Shillong Lajong and Royal Wahingdoh, with the first meeting in I-League on 18 January 2015 that ended with Royal Wahingdoh as the winner by 1âÂÂ2. Both the rivalries continued thereafter in Shillong Premier League for a brief period until the teams were dissolved.
In 2019âÂÂ20, another Manipuri team, TRAU got promoted, thus the beginning of Imphal Derby. The derby is contested between NEROCA and TRAU, and was first played on 8 January 2020, in which TRAU emerged as the maiden winner of the derby by the scoreline of 2âÂÂ1. The derby had already begun even before the inclusion of TRAU in I-League, when the two local rivals contested against each other in Manipur State League. The Imphal Derby gained fame in 2022 during the 131st edition of Durand Cup when competitive football returned to the city after COVID-19 pandemic in India. The Government of Manipur declared a half-holiday for all governmental and educational institutions in build-up to the match on 18 August, in which TRAU was defeated by NEROCA 3âÂÂ1 in Group-C opener.
The promotion of Chanmari to IFL in 2025âÂÂ26 saw them clashing against fellow Mizo side and former champions Aizawl on 24 March 2026. Aizawl won the match 3âÂÂ2 after overturning a twoâÂÂgoal deficit.
Other teams include the teams which played in I-League in the past, until they were either dissolved or relegated to regional leagues.
- United Sikkim; - Royal Wahingdoh; - Rangdajied United; - Shillong Lajong; - Aizawl; - NEROCA; - TRAU; - Chanmari
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