Ahead of the United States’ World Cup 2026 debut against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, hospitality workers with Unite Here Local 11 wore “ICE Out” pins over fears that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could be present at matches. The union says a new agr
The pins were impossible to miss as workers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles walked their routes with opening-week electricity in the air. Ahead of the United States Men’s National Team’s World Cup 2026 debut against Paraguay. employees of Unite Here Local 11 wore “ICE Out” badges. pushing back against the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at matches.
The timing matters. Tuesday’s unity wasn’t just about message boards and buttons—it came after the union threatened to strike ahead of the tournament, and after contract talks had nearly tipped into chaos.
Unite Here Local 11 union co-president Kurt Petersen said, “The First Amendment doesn’t end when you clock in. Our members have a right to wear a union button. and this one carries a message they believe in: ICE Out of FIFA.” He added that the point was safety and welcome. “These workers are hospitality professionals. Their job is to welcome guests and provide world-class service to every fan who walks through the gates but it’s hard to create a welcoming environment when workers and their communities are living in fear.”.
Petersen said conversations with fans have been positive and that some people are even asking to take the buttons. “They’re wearing this button because they want a World Cup that’s safe and welcoming for everyone at SoFi. ” he said. The union represents 2,000 bartenders, servers, cooks and dishwashers at the stadium.
For the workers, the political anxiety isn’t theoretical. Petersen pointed to a key issue in negotiations: protection on the job if immigration raids occur. The Los Angeles area was a target of ramped-up enforcement last summer. and community and union groups have raised concerns about potential federal raids during the World Cup.
That worry has run up against an assurance from local law enforcement. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said last week that the US Department of Homeland Security had assured him federal authorities would be at matches to assist with security, not civil immigration enforcement.
Under the new deal, Petersen said employees keep the right to strike if an immigration raid happens at work. He said no other collective bargaining agreement in the country includes such a provision. “We hope we never need to use that right,” Petersen said.
The backdrop to Tuesday’s agreement was raw and immediate. Workers last week voted to authorize a strike—an outcome that would have thrown the World Cup into chaos—after talks stalled with the stadium’s food service provider, Legends Global.
Legends Global said in a statement that the company was pleased to reach an agreement with workers and looks forward to providing “an outstanding hospitality experience” at the World Cup matches in Inglewood.
SoFi Stadium will host eight matches, beginning with Friday’s United States vs Paraguay game. Opened in 2020, the venue seats 70,000 people and is home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
Away from the immigration fight, workers also won hard, measurable improvements. Unite Here Local 11 said the tentative contract includes wage increases and protections from subcontracting. Petersen told reporters outside the stadium near Los Angeles that the agreement is strong not just politically, but financially. “Economically, it is the strongest agreement at any NFL stadium,” he said. “In short, we won every major issue that we brought to the table.”.
The tentative contract runs through April 2028—just ahead of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles—and includes protections against subcontracting and a contribution to build housing for hospitality workers. Petersen said the stadium cooks could be among the highest-paid in the job in the country. with many earning $40 an hour in about two years. which he described as well above California’s minimum wage.
Cooks at the bargaining table said the numbers are changing fast. Islagisbel Castillo, 21, a suite cook on the bargaining committee, said some cooks currently make about $31 an hour and will see their hourly wages rise over the next two years to $38 or $39.
Yolanda Fierro, who works at the stadium, framed the deal as a step toward security for employees as much as a workplace win. “This is a very proud moment for all of us,” she said. “We really want to secure the safety of all our employees.”
World Cup 2026 SoFi Stadium United States vs Paraguay Unite Here Local 11 ICE Out Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract agreement Kurt Petersen Robert Luna Legends Global
ICE Out pins seems like a weird stadium thing… like can they just do their job.
SoFi Stadium employees wearing “ICE Out” pins over fears of ICE being there? I mean if they’re scared then fine, but are they even allowed to have ICE at a soccer match? Sounds like FIFA problem to me.
I read it as they don’t want ICE agents to watch the game, which is kinda wild. Also the article says First Amendment doesn’t end when you clock in, but then it’s like… union threatened to strike first? That’s just politics mixed with hospitality.
“ICE Out of FIFA”??? So does that mean FIFA is literally inviting ICE into the stadium or something? I’m confused. I get the safety/welcome angle but pins aren’t gonna stop anything, like what, ICE is gonna see the badge and leave? Also strike talks before the tournament is just gonna make it messy for fans.