Workers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood have voted to authorize a strike just days before the venue is scheduled to host the first United States match in the World Cup, creating uncertainty around one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year.
UNITE HERE Local 11, the union representing hospitality workers at the stadium, announced Friday that its members voted 96 percent in favor of authorizing a strike. The workers include cashiers, concession workers, bartenders, dishwashers, cooks, and food attendants who provide essential services during major events at the Inglewood venue.
"Workers could walk off the job at any moment if their demands are not met," the union stated, signaling the potential for significant disruption to World Cup operations.
The labor dispute centers on several key demands, including higher wages, enhanced workplace security, and protections against subcontracting that could erode union jobs. However, a particularly contentious issue has emerged regarding the presence of federal immigration enforcement officers at the games, reflecting broader tensions surrounding the Trump administration's immigration policies.
As part of ongoing negotiations, UNITE HERE Local 11 has requested that FIFA ensure both U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol play no role at World Cup matches. This demand reflects deep concerns among workers about potential immigration enforcement activities in their workplace.
"Fans from around the world will come expecting an unforgettable event, and we take pride in making that happen," said Yolanda Fierro, a union member who works at SoFi Stadium, in a statement released Friday. "But no worker should have to fear being separated from their family or worry about dangerous ICE activity while simply doing their job. We deserve to feel safe, respected, and protected at work."
Negotiations between the union and Legends Global, which manages hospitality services at SoFi Stadium, along with FIFA, are scheduled to continue Monday. The timing is critical, as the U.S. men's team is set to compete against Paraguay at the stadium on Friday, June 12.
Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, told the Associated Press that negotiations have been moving at a "glacial" pace, though there has been some progress on minimum wage increases for cooks and dishwashers.
Legends Global told the Associated Press in a statement that it looks "forward to delivering an outstanding hospitality experience for fans at the FIFA World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium." NPR reached out to both FIFA and Legends Global for comment on Saturday but had not received a response as of publication.
The immigration enforcement question has generated conflicting signals from government officials. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna stated earlier this week that a local Department of Homeland Security official informed him that federal agents would be present at the World Cup to ensure security but would not conduct immigration enforcement.
"It's going to take all of us to make sure that all the venues, the scoped and unscoped events, are secure. But in regard to civil immigration enforcement they told us that specifically would not be occurring at any of the games," Luna said. He added that "any of that is subject to change, but I have trust that they're giving me the appropriate information because if that starts occurring, we're going to have a whole new host of problems."
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated during an interview that aired on Fox News Monday that ICE and other federal agencies would be present at the matches "not for immigration but for terrorist threats."
However, when contacted by NPR on Saturday, DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis did not confirm whether agents would be conducting immigration enforcement at the games. In a statement, she said DHS would "work with our local and federal partners to secure 2026 FIFA World Cup — in line with federal law and the U.S. Constitution — as we do with every major sporting event" to ensure all fans have "a safe and unforgettable experience."
The department also referred NPR to an ICE social media post from last month, which stated that its agents "will play a pivotal role in combatting [sic] human trafficking as well as stopping counterfeit merchandise and counterfeit ticket sales."
The labor dispute adds another layer of complexity to what is already a massive logistical undertaking for the Los Angeles region. As negotiations continue into next week, both workers and management face mounting pressure to reach an agreement that will allow the World Cup matches to proceed without disruption while addressing the legitimate concerns of the workforce that makes these events possible.
