McDonald's and Pepsi are out of the running to be the main sponsor of the FA Cup, according to a source close to the negotiations. The brands are both likely to continue a sponsorship connection with the Football Association.
But neither will be the "lead partner" of the FA Cup or England team.
Carlsberg and at least two other large companies from different fields are continuing talks with the FA, which is changing the way it appoints sponsors.
From August 2006 to 2010, there will be just one single "lead partner" for England and another for the FA Cup.
The England lead partner will have their branding on the team training kit, but not on team shirts, as this is banned by Fifa.
Below the lead sponsors, there will be a lower tier of three sponsors called "official supporters".
Sportswear giants Umbro have already signed up to be official partners for both England and the FA Cup.
Sponsors will also be encouraged to invest in seven football development packages covering everything from schools to disabled football.
McDonald's has been a sponsor of the FA Premier League and each of the Premier League clubs since 1995.
The company has been a community partner of the FA since 2002, as have Pepsi and Carlsberg.
Nationwide announced in November that it was ending its six-year sponsorship deal with the FA because it had "run its course".
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Match of the Day - Post-match interviews