Heatwave forces PSG to shift season-opening Ligue 1 match to Rennes
Paris Saint-Germain’s first league game of the season against Rennes will be played in Rennes after a heatwave ruined the Parc des Princes surface.
Following a summer heatwave that left the Parc des Princes playing surface in poor condition, Paris Saint-Germain will not host its opening Ligue 1 match against Rennes as scheduled. The French football competitions committee confirmed the venue change late on Wednesday, moving the game to Rennes in agreement with the visiting club. PSG cited player safety and the unsatisfactory state of the pitch as reasons for the relocation and apologized to supporters for the disruption.
The club announced a plan to install a new pitch before its subsequent home fixture versus Monaco on September 4. Earlier in the week, PSG had traveled to Austria and beat Aston Villa to retain the UEFA Super Cup. The move underscores the impact of extreme weather on football infrastructure.
Why it matters
Severe heat damaged a major stadium’s field, forcing a top-flight match to be moved and highlighting climate risks for sports venues.
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