A week before the U.S. men’s team opens the 2026 World Cup at SoFi Stadium, unionized stadium workers voted to authorize a strike. The decision by Unite Here Local 11, representing about 2,000 workers, comes after talks stalled with the stadium operator Legend
For the third morning in a row, the clock has kept ticking toward June 12 — and at SoFi Stadium, workers now have a new lever ready if negotiations don’t move. Unite Here Local 11 announced Friday, June 5 that its members have voted to authorize a strike as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches.
The vote landed overwhelmingly: Unite Here Local 11 represents about 2. 000 workers at SoFi Stadium. and the union said the authorization vote was 96% in favor. The workers include cashiers. dishwashers. cooks. bartenders. concessions workers and food attendants. and the union said they could walk off the job “at any moment” if their demands are not met.
“It could get ugly, yes,” Kurt Peterson, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, said in comments reported by the Los Angeles Times.
That authorization came after negotiations stalled between Unite Here Local 11 and Legends Global, the stadium operator. Those talks are scheduled to resume Monday, June 8, just four days before the U.S. men’s national soccer team is scheduled to play Paraguay Friday, June 12 at SoFi Stadium.
SoFi Stadium — the 70,000-seat venue that is home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers — is also expected to host FIFA World Cup matches this summer.
The standoff centers on issues that cut across day-to-day operations and high-stakes compliance. The Los Angeles Times reported that FIFA. the worldwide governing body for soccer and organizer of the World Cup. is demanding Social Security numbers. fingerprints and other potentially sensitive information for background checks. The union objects, saying the information could end up in the possession of the Department of Homeland Security.
Wages and staffing security are also at the center of the dispute. The union says the stadium operators have fallen well short of its demand of a substantial raise to more than $30 an hour. The union also wants to keep ICE out of the stadium.
Legends Global. in a statement provided to a national outlet before the vote. said it has enjoyed a strong relationship with Unite Here Local 11 for more than a decade and remains committed to reaching a fair agreement through good faith negotiations. The company said it looks forward to delivering an outstanding hospitality experience for fans at the FIFA World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium.
Taken together, the timeline is tight and the leverage is immediate. The authorization vote gives workers a strike option that can be triggered “at any moment. ” while the next round of bargaining is set for Monday. June 8 — with a U.S. match at the stadium scheduled for Friday, June 12. The union’s objections to background-check data. its push for pay above $30 an hour. and its insistence that ICE stay out of the venue place the World Cup countdown directly inside the labor negotiations.
For now, the union’s members are holding the line at the bargaining table — and the union’s message is unmistakable about what happens if demands don’t get met before the tournament arrives.
SoFi Stadium Unite Here Local 11 strike authorization Legends Global FIFA World Cup 2026 labor negotiations wage demands background checks Department of Homeland Security ICE
Strike a week before the World Cup?? Seems like FIFA should just step in.
Wait so are they asking for fingerprints from everyone just like… fans too? Because that seems insane. If they’re already authorized to strike then I guess the stadium won’t have anybody working concessions which is gonna ruin stuff.
“It could get ugly” like… that’s not exactly a surprise, unions always do this right when the big event is coming. But also, if they really are asking for social security numbers and fingerprints, I’d be pissed too? idk. World Cup is in like 4 days and they still fighting… seems backwards.
World Cup at SoFi and now union workers might walk? That’s gonna be chaotic. I saw something online like FIFA is trying to collect biometrics for “security,” but then it’s like why wouldn’t the stadium operator just give in so they don’t miss the whole game. 96% in favor sounds high but also it says cashiers and dishwashers so maybe they’re just fed up with the whole process. Also the article cut off on my end so not sure what the actual demands were.