Coca-Cola Christmas advert drops during half time and fans were loving it

People are finally ready for Christmas after seeing the Coca-Cola advert.

The iconic ad dropped during the half-time break in England's World Cup match with the USA.

For many, the year is just an exercise in counting down the days until the long-running commercial hits their screens, because can it ever really be time for Santa until you've seen the shiny lights of the Coca-Cola truck?

Well, it seems like a lot of football fans don't think so after they raced to social media to share their delight after it appeared.

Writing on Twitter, one user said: "When you get your first sight of the Coke advert of the year at half time… Christmas is coming and Football’s coming home!"

Another chipped in: "Just saw Coke advert, it's officially Christmas!!"

Nik Goulthorp/Alamy

"Count down is officially on now the holidays are coming Coke Christmas advert has been on," put a third.

While another added: "The coke Christmas advert has just been on…MERRY BLOODY CHRISTMAS."

And if this wasn't exciting enough, there's more.

That's because this week Coca-Cola announced the initial dates of its famous UK Christmas truck tour.

As well as Christmas movies being released onto Netflix long before 1 December, and trees and lights slowly adorning the streets and stores, you know Santa is truly coming to town when you spy Coca-Cola's red truck roaming the country to spread some festive fun.

Coca-Cola has revealed when its famous tour will begin and the first set of dates you can expect to catch a glimpse of it.

Coca-Cola's Christmas Truck Tour was cancelled in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and while it returned last year, the amount of places it visited were reduced.

Sue Burton/Alamy

This year, it's back in full force, with the tour kicking off today (25 November), at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.

The tour's second destination will be on 26 and 27 November in Newham, London, at Sainsbury's Beckton.

Find the full list of the initial tour dates and locations here:

25 November - Bluewater, Kent

26 and 27 November - Beckton, London

8, 9 and 10 December - Dublin, Ireland

16 and 17 December - Belfast, Northern Ireland

Fear not if you can't see a town or city near you listed, because the tally is simply the initial release of tour dates.

There's a handy Facebook page - with over 15,000 members - dedicated to Coca-Cola's Christmas Truck tour so you can stay up to date with the latest announcements and track the bus too.

Merry Christmas!