Internacional prepares for Gre-Nal classic amid sponsorship and FIFA ban

Sport Club Internacional is preparing for the first leg of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals against Grêmio at the Beira-Rio stadium. Over 40,000 tickets have been sold for the match, which is scheduled for Thursday. Local authorities in Porto Alegre have organized special transit and bus lines to manage the high volume of fans.

Off the pitch, Internacional has secured a temporary master sponsorship deal with Speedmax Pneus, a brand under the Cantu Inc. conglomerate. The logo will appear on the team's uniforms for the next four official matches, including the two Gre-Nal classics and upcoming Serie A fixtures.

However, the club is facing administrative challenges after receiving a FIFA transfer ban. The penalty, which prevents the registration of new players for three windows or until debts are settled, stems from an outstanding payment to the Danish club Midtjylland regarding the transfer of defender Juninho. The club stated it is working on alternatives to regularize its cash flow and settle the obligation.