In the first one, called Taça Fernando Carvalho (Fernando Carvalho Cup, in reference to former Internacional chairman, winner of the 2006 Copa Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup), teams from one group will play in single round-robin format against clubs of the other group.
On January 15, just one week before its debut in the championship, a bus carrying all Brasil squad crashed in the 150th kilometer of the BR-392 road, in the city of Canguçu, southern Rio Grande do Sul.
The accident caused the death of three members of the team: goalkeeper trainer Giovani Guimarães, defender Régis Gouveia and striker Claudio Milar.
Also, companies as Multisom and Banrisul signed special sponsorship deals to provide financial support.
On January 19, club managers and the Rio Grande do Sul Football Federation decided that Brasil should skip their first 5 matches, debuting on February 3 against Santa Cruz.
Considering only group matches of both Fernando Carvalho and Fábio Koff trophies, the bottom two teams in overall table will be relegated to play lower levels in 2010.