The Coca-Cola Company is one of the longest-standing corporate partners of FIFA, with a formal association since 1974 and an official sponsorship of FIFA World Cup™ that began in 1978. Coca-Cola has had stadium advertising at every FIFA World Cup™ since 1950.

In November 2005, FIFA and The Coca-Cola Company extended their long-time partnership for another 16 years, from 2007 until 2022. The renewed commitment by Coca-Cola in the nonalcoholic beverages category includes cash and in-kind products and services in support of the broad spectrum of FIFA-organized events around the globe, including the FIFA World Cup™, FIFA Women's World Cup, FIFA World Youth Championship, FIFA U-17 World Championship, FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, FIFA Club World Championship, FIFA Interactive World Cup, FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, FIFA Futsal World Championship, and the FIFA Confederations Cup.

Coca-Cola also continues to sponsor the closely watched FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for men's national teams and FIFA Women's World Ranking.

Our innovative marketing programs invite fans worldwide to enjoy "Football on the Coke Side of Life" and encourage people from different backgrounds to share their mutual passion for football in a positive way. The campaign recognizes that, despite our apparent differences, people from every walk of life understand football and offers a way to open the door to positive possibilities.

In addition to grassroots programs supporting football for all ages, our local Coca-Cola operations and bottling partners typically develop a widespread array of promotional activities that set the stage for football fans everywhere to fully enjoy the unmatched competition and pageantry that accompanies each FIFA World Cup™.

As part of the countdown to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, the first, global "FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola" was conducted from January to April 2006. The 31-city, 29-nation Trophy Tour - through Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe - drew nearly 200,000 fans to see the FIFA World Cup Trophy up close and, in many cases, have their picture taken with the one-and-only, solid-gold symbol of world football supremacy. Free tickets to view the FIFA World Cup Trophy were made available to consumers through local Coca-Cola promotions in countries all along the worldwide route.

Among our other initiatives surrounding the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ was the Coca-Cola Football Camp, which drew nearly 300 young people from more than two dozen countries to a special recreational camp in central Germany. The participating youths ultimately served as either ceremonial Flag Bearers to carry the national flag of the competing teams or as Referee Escorts at FIFA World Cup™ matches. Coca-Cola Germany also provided a large contingent of young country Flag Bearers and Referee Escorts from the host country for the opening ceremonies at nearly all 64 matches. In addition, a special Coca-Cola Ball Crew - totaling approximately 900 German youths - was stationed along the pitch at every FIFA World Cup™ contest.

For a summary of all Coca-Cola programs for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, please click on the link in the right hand column.

In July 2007, we hosted more than 120 young, aspiring football players from at least 20 countries at the Coca-Cola International Football Camp, a unique program of specialized training and multicultural camaraderie. The weeklong football camp took place in Rio de Janeiro under the auspices of the Brazilian Football Academy. Former Brazilian national team coach Carlos Alberto Parreira - now the coach of South Africa's national team - and his professional BFA staff developed a comprehensive training program for the participating teens, who received authoritative instruction about "the Brazilian way" of playing the beautiful game.

For more information about The Coca-Cola Company and its numerous initiatives to support football from the local level to the FIFA World Cup™, contact:

Petro Kacur
The Coca-Cola Company
+1 (404) 676-2683
pressinquiries@na.ko.com

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola®, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brands, including Diet Coke®, Fanta® and Sprite®, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light beverages, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, energy and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.4 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.