Workers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles could go on strike as early as this Friday, when the Paraguayan National Team will make its 2026 World Cup debut against the United States. Around 2,000 employees voted in favor of a walkout and could leave their posts at any moment.
In addition to better wages, the workers complain that they have been without a contract since last year and have expressed concern about the possibility of immigration enforcement operations carried out by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) during the tournament. The U.S. agency stated it would conduct inspections for the safety of the World Cup, but the vice president of the Unite Here Local 11 union demanded that employees have the right to leave their posts without facing retaliation from the immigration agency.
The strike was not declared immediately, but the vote gives workers the power to halt operations at any time. SoFi Stadium will host eight matches during the World Cup.
In early May, Unite Here Local 11 asked California Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate the World Cup accreditation process led by FIFA, claiming it would violate the state's worker privacy laws. FIFA stated it is not involved in labor disputes.
Legends Global, the company responsible for coordinating food and beverage services at the stadium, said it has presented "progressive proposals," but has already prepared a contingency plan with replacement workers for the June 12 game.