Weak number of spectators: France against Israel in the Stade de France!

Weak number of spectators: France against Israel in the Stade de France!

On Thursday, November 14th, the Stade de France becomes the setting for an extraordinary football game when the French national team meets Israel. But the anticipation of the match is overshadowed by an alarming forecast: only between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators are expected - this is one of the weakest number of visitors that has ever been recorded in this stadium! For comparison: The previous low was reached on June 22, 2003 when only 36,842 fans came to a game against New Zealand.

To ensure security, the upper ring of the stadium is closed, which means that the audience has to concentrate on the lower levels. This measure should not only improve the security situation, but also optimize the atmosphere despite the small number of fans. The French authorities decided to have an increased security concept due to the tense geopolitical situation and the latest incidents in Amsterdam, in which there were riots between Israeli fans. An increased contingent of security forces will be present both in the stadium and in its surroundings to guarantee the safety of everyone present.

a return after a long absence

This game also marks the return of the "Bleus" to the Stade de France after they were absent for a long time due to the preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games. The last appearance of the vice world champions in this stadium took place in June 2023 when they defeated Greece 1-0-in front of 58,000 enthusiastic spectators. But the absence of some key players such as Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Aurélien Tchouaméni could also contribute to the worrying number of spectators. The combination of geopolitical tensions and prominent failures makes the anticipation of the game appear in a different light.