Car brands Kia and Nissan have both run ads in national newspapers today (Monday), paying tongue-in-cheek reference to England’s World Cup defeat by Germany.

As part of its ‘Write the Future’ campaign, Nike has taken over Johannesburg’s Southern Life Center building for an interactive LED light show. ‘Write the Headline” allows fans around the world to root for their favourite World Cup player in a big way.

Videos of the 10 best TV ads of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa: Nike, Pepsi, ESPN, Puma, Coca-Cola, Visa, Carlsberg, Budweiser…

Nike is not an official World Cup sponsor but, thanks to some creative marketing, that doesn’t stop consumers across the globe from linking the company to the world’s largest soccer tournament. The Nielsen Company analyzed online blogs, message boards and social networking sites and found that the sports shoe and apparel giant was more frequently linked to the World Cup than any of the tournament’s official partners and sponsors.

Football icon and two times FIFA World Cup™ champion, Franz Beckenbauer today proudly launched The Quest; adidas’ new interactive FIFA World Cup™ football campaign during a press conference and photo call at the official opening of the adidas PR Headquarters, Jo’bulani Central in Johannesburg. Beckenbauer, unveiled an exclusive painting by the adidas African artist team which features 32 players from the 32 federations playing at the FIFA World Cup™ and signals the start of adidas’ activities in South Africa.

Sony has unveiled a World Cup based marketing campaign to persuade customers to upgrade to its new range of 3D-ready TV sets.

The Europe-wide campaign – which is based around the slogan ‘Do not adjust your set’ – will premiere on 11th, the opening day of the World Cup in South Africa.

Adidas kicked of its World Cup activity with an advertising campaign for its F5O adiZero football boots, featuring the likes of Lionel Messi and David Villa.

As revealed by The Spoiler, a gentleman’s company youstrip.com is using the 2010 World Cup to promote its website through a “World Cup Strip”. The premise appears to be simple enough – girls from a handful of World Cup nations slowly/awkwardly reveal their bosoms in the kitchen/bathroom.

Coca-Cola is unveiling three new television advertisements as part of its global marketing campaign to support its sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Budweiser is looking to leverage its sponsorship of the World Cup with a global multimedia campaign featuring a football-themed online reality show and its “largest” ever on-pack promotion in the UK.