Food Service Workers at US SoFi Stadium Threaten to Strike as World Cup Nears

(Los Angeles, June 6, Agence France-Presse) With just days until the kick-off of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there are reports that food service employees at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles County, California, where eight matches are scheduled, may go on strike during the tournament.

According to AFP, the union Unite Here Local 11, which represents approximately 2,000 food service and hospitality workers at the stadium, is demanding higher pay and a guarantee that federal immigration enforcement officers will not be allowed to enter the venue.

The workers approved a strike with a staggering 96% majority vote, meaning they can walk off the job at any time. This year's World Cup is set to begin on June 11 in the United States.

A new round of labor negotiations is scheduled for June 8, while SoFi Stadium will host its first World Cup match on U.S. soil on June 12.

The food service and hospitality staff represented by Unite Here Local 11 include chefs, dishwashers, bartenders, and more.

SoFi Stadium, which cost over $5 billion to build and was completed in 2020, will host eight matches during this World Cup.