Heatwave damages PSG pitch, Ligue 1 opener moved to Rennes

Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 title defence will begin away from home after a severe heatwave damaged the pitch at Parc des Princes, forcing a late change of venue for Sunday’s opening match against Rennes.

The French football competition committee confirmed the decision on Wednesday (August 19) after an inspection found the Paris pitch unfit for competitive action. The match will now be played at Rennes' stadium, with player safety and playing conditions cited as the main reasons for the change.

The Ligue 1 champions were originally scheduled to host Rennes at Parc des Princes. However, the condition of the pitch deteriorated significantly following France's recent extreme heat, raising concerns over the safety and fitness of the players.

PSG also confirmed the venue change, saying the decision was taken with the players' health and safety as the priority. The club has already begun replacing the damaged turf and expects the Parc des Princes to be ready before the scheduled home match against Monaco on September 4.

The damage is linked to France's recent heatwave, which pushed temperatures in Paris close to 41°C on June 24. Large parts of the country were placed under red heat alerts during the period, while wildfires also broke out in several regions.

The extreme heat had a broader impact across France. Between June 22 and 28, the country recorded nearly 30 percent more deaths than during the comparable period, while the increase in the Paris region was around 62 percent.

The disruption means PSG, who are preparing to begin another Ligue 1 campaign as defending champions, will have to wait until September to return to their home ground.