Paris Saint-Germain's first Ligue 1 match of the 2026-27 season against Rennes, originally scheduled at their home ground Parc des Princes in Paris, will now be played at Rennes' Roazhon Park on Sunday, 24 August 2026, with kickoff time unchanged [1, 2, 3].
The move comes after extreme heatwaves over the summer caused severe damage to the pitch at Parc des Princes. France recorded its hottest-ever day on 24 June 2026, with temperatures nearly reaching 41°C in Paris, contributing to the deterioration of the turf [1]. The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) said the pitch conditions made playing the match unsafe, risking the players' physical integrity. LFP stated, "The current conditions did not allow the match to be played under satisfactory conditions, particularly with regard to the safety and physical integrity of the players" [1].
PSG expressed regret over the disruption. "Paris Saint-Germain fully understands the inconvenience caused by this change for its supporters and all those who had planned to attend this match at the Parc des Princes. The club regrets this exceptional situation," the club said [3].
France's heatwave also drove up death rates significantly in late June, with a nearly 30% increase nationwide and a 62% rise in the Paris region between 22 and 28 June 2026, highlighting the severity of the climate conditions that also damaged the pitch [1].
The damaged turf at Parc des Princes will be replaced before PSG's next home match, scheduled for 4 September 2026 against Monaco, which will be played at Parc des Princes once the new pitch is installed [1, 2, 3]. The postponed home fixture against Rennes will be rescheduled for the weekend of 6 March 2027 [2].
PSG will also be without left-back Nuno Mendes for the first three league matches, including the games against Rennes, Lille, and Monaco. Mendes received a three-match suspension following a red card in the French Super Cup against Lens [2]. Newly signed Lucas Digne is expected to fill Mendes' position during the suspension [2].
A comparable issue emerged earlier this month in Spain, where Celta Vigo postponed their La Liga opener after their pitch was damaged by a fungal outbreak during sustained high temperatures [1].
The PSG-Rennes match will proceed on 24 August 2026 at Roazhon Park, with the Parc des Princes pitch expected to be ready for the Monaco game on 4 September 2026.
