SoFi Stadium Workers Vote to Authorize Strike Days Before FIFA World Cup
SoFi Stadium workers voted 96% in favor of authorizing a strike just days before the FIFA World Cup begins, with negotiations set to continue Monday ahead of the USA vs. Paraguay match on June 12.
The vote came in with the World Cup already breathing down the stadium’s neck.
Workers at SoFi Stadium—cashiers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders and others—cast ballots to authorize a strike just days before the FIFA World Cup was scheduled to begin.
On Friday evening, a spokesperson for UNITE HERE Local 11 said union members voted 96% in favor of authorizing a strike. That authorization means workers “could walk off the job at any moment if their demands are not met.”
Negotiations are set to continue Monday, four days before the USA v. Paraguay match is slated to occur at SoFi Stadium.
The union update laid out what the workers say they want. On wages, workers are asking for “pay that reflects the true cost of living in Los Angeles, including premium pay for World Cup and other mega-events, and payment to a housing fund to build housing for hospitality workers.”
They’re also pushing for limits around technology and contracting. The statement said negotiators are seeking “strong protections against the erosion of union jobs through unimpeded subcontracting and technology and automation.”
And on immigration enforcement, the union emphasized workers’ right to refuse the choice it believes workers are being forced into. UNITE HERE Local 11 defended that workers should be able to walk off the job if federal immigration enforcement enters SoFi Stadium. saying. “no worker should have to choose between their job and their freedom.”.
A representative for SoFi Stadium did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What makes the timing sting is how quickly the clock runs out. The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with 104 matches broadcast live across Fox and Telemundo. Although matches are spread across North America as the tournament is jointly hosted by the U.S. Canada and Mexico. the event is hosting eight matches in the U.S.—and the first at SoFi Stadium is the USA v. Paraguay game, set for Friday, June 12 at 6 p.m. PT.
SoFi Stadium UNITE HERE Local 11 strike authorization FIFA World Cup 2026 USA vs Paraguay labor negotiations living wages AI protections subcontracting immigration enforcement
So they can just strike right before the World Cup like that?? Wild.
I read 96% and I’m like okay, but what exactly are they asking for besides money and housing? Also the immigration part sounds like it’s gonna turn into a whole political thing.
Wait, isn’t FIFA in charge? Like shouldn’t FIFA force SoFi to sign whatever the union wants? The article says negotiations Monday but the USA vs Paraguay is June 12 so… aren’t they already too late? Not sure how any of this works.
People acting shocked but stadiums always treat workers like disposable. The “no worker should have to choose between their job and their freedom” part got me. But also, if they walk off, fans are the ones who suffer and then everybody blames the union, you know? Seems like this would’ve been handled earlier, like before FIFA tickets were even sold.