The FIFA World Cup is one of the most gargantuan sporting events in the world. With an average of over 3.2 billion viewers worldwide, FIFA boasts the World Cup as one of the most globalized competition

in the history of the world. Coca Cola has, for many years now been one of the more prominent cooperate partners of FIFA and this collaboration is especially evident during the FIFA World Cup. This year, in an effort to commemorate the long standing alliance between the two colossal organizations and also in an effort to boost the awareness of the World Cup on a local front; Coca Cola St. Lucia and The Saint Lucia Football Association Inc. have attempted to replicate the partnership which exists between their parent organizations. The two local entities have combined forces to put together the 2018 Coca Cola Championship. The competition will feature 16 of the island’s district teams from leagues which have satisfactorily complied with the club licensing regulations as stipulated by the FIFA. In addition to the district teams the SLFA has decided to include two of its national teams to the competition; namely the national U20 and national senior team.

The competition is being played predominantly at the Marchand Grounds and at the La Clery Playing Field. The tournament adopts a unique format which is comparable to that of the “home and away” knock out style. The 2018 Coca Cola Island Cup and FIFA’s flagship event are being run synchronously. Big screens have been stationed at the grounds at which the tournament will be played to facilitate the viewing of the World Cup games prior to the commencement of matches in the island cup. This ensures that football enthusiast can enjoy the best of the World Cup whilst indulging themselves to the best of local football action.

To this date, four games in the competition have been played. Powerhouses Canaries have managed to overcome La Clery by 3 goals to nil, while a dreadful lapse in concentration in the latter portions of the game saw Anse La Raye succumb to Marchand by 4 goals to nil. Gros Islet earned the initial advantage over Dennery when they comprehensively defeated the eastern team by 2 goals to nil. South Castries also registered a rare victory earning a 2 goal advantage over Rosea Valley in the first round. Action continues throughout the week as the teams vie for supremacy at the newly introduced Coca Cola Island Cup.