"With the alliance of FIFA those three partners support our aim to bring everybody to the game and motivate them to exercise. "We all speak football (soccer)" is our shared message," it said in the statement.

Coca-Cola said it was "surprised to see scientists take a non-fact based position," saying the company also produced a range of beverages from carbonated drinks to water and juices.

"We would have welcomed a dialogue with them, to explain them that all of our beverages ... fit well in a balanced, active lifestyle, which we help promote through hundreds of thousands of initiatives worldwide," the statement said.

McDonald's too said its sponsorship of the quadrennial tournament was entirely justified.

"Football (soccer) is a key passion of the millions of families and young people across the world that we serve everyday as well as of our thousands of employees," it said in a statement.