A 2026 World Cup Strike could disrupt SoFi Stadium just days before the tournament opens. Unite Here Local 11, representing over 2,000 workers, voted 96% to authorize a walkout. The union is demanding higher wages, stronger protections, and that ICE stay away from stadium grounds during the games.
A possible 2026 World Cup Strike is taking shape in Inglewood, California, as Unite Here Local 11 leaders continue negotiating with FIFA less than a week before the tournament begins. The union, which represents more than 2,000 bartenders, cooks, dishwashers, and service workers at SoFi Stadium, recently authorized a strike by a 96 percent vote after a two-day ballot, union officials said.
The pressure escalated on Sunday, when a peaceful protest unfolded in a Home Depot parking lot less than a mile and a half from the stadium. Residents and local organizers gathered to speak out against potential involvement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the FIFA World Cup.
2026 World Cup Strike: Key Facts at a Glance
Here is a quick breakdown of who is involved and what is at stake.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Who | Unite Here Local 11, representing 2,000+ SoFi Stadium workers |
| What | 96% vote to authorize a strike; ongoing negotiations with FIFA |
| Where | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California |
| When | Negotiations continue Monday; opening match June 12 (U.S. vs. Paraguay) |
| Why | ICE concerns, wages, subcontractor protections, and AI replacing jobs |
Why a World Cup Walkout Could Happen
The union’s core concern is keeping immigration enforcement away from the games. Organizers argue that ICE has no role at a sporting event and that its presence would intimidate workers and guests alike.
Angela Sestrich, a suite attendant at SoFi Stadium and a Unite Here Local 11 member, told Goalkeepers the union is prepared to act.
“We will meet with our constituents and decide when we want to go on strike. We are very much ready to get ICE out, we don’t want ICE in our stadium,” she said. “We don’t want our workers or our guests to be afraid or intimidated by ICE or anybody else trying to interfere and scare someone into someplace they don’t wanna be.”
What Union Workers Are Demanding From FIFA
The 2026 World Cup Strike threat is built around a clear set of demands. Union leaders want FIFA and stadium operators to address several issues before the tournament starts.
The union’s key demands include:
- Keeping ICE and Border Patrol away from the stadium during the World Cup
- Higher wages for stadium workers
- Work limitations to protect employees from overload
- Stronger protections for subcontracted workers
- Removing artificial intelligence systems that could replace human jobs
Concerns Over Worker Data and Privacy
Privacy has become a central flashpoint in the negotiations. According to Sestrich, FIFA has requested the Social Security numbers of SoFi Stadium employees, leaving many members uneasy.
“FIFA is trying to get all of our employees’ personal information, our Social Security numbers and they want to keep it,” Sestrich said. “We don’t know what they’re gonna do with it. There’s no reason for them to have that. We don’t trust FIFA with our information, and we don’t approve of them having our information. Our employer already has all the information they need.”
Negotiations between the union and FIFA are set to continue Monday, less than a week before the opening match between the U.S. men’s national team and Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on June 12.
Community Voices Back the Strike Effort
Support for the workers extended well beyond the union. Protesters heard from more than 10 local grassroots organizations about new developments with ICE, nearly a year after immigration raids began in Los Angeles under the Trump Administration.
Signs at the gathering read, “Say no to FIFA, ICE out of the World Cup.” Activists led the crowd in a chant: “What do we want? ICE out of FIFA. When do we want it? Now.”
The Boycott Home Depot Coalition, which opposes ICE raids targeting migrant day laborers near Home Depot stores, voiced strong distrust. Notably, Home Depot is an official sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“ICE has their eye on SoFi,” said Miriam Arghandiwal, an organizer with the Boycott Home Depot Coalition. “The same way we said no to ICE at Home Depots last summer, we must say no to ICE at SoFi this summer at the World Cup games. There’s no reason for immigration officers to be involved at a sporting event. They have no reason at all for being there.”
Local Residents Stand in Solidarity
Many community members joined to support both the workers and the organizing groups. For some, the issue is deeply personal.
Lizet Solis, a Los Angeles native, said she opposes any ICE presence at the stadium or in her neighborhood. “I absolutely hate the fact that ICE is in our communities. They’re targeting our people, my people. I come from immigrant parents myself, and this is definitely a sensitive topic to me,” she said.
What Happens Next
The outcome of Monday’s negotiations will likely determine whether the 2026 World Cup Strike moves forward. With the opening match scheduled for June 12, both sides face a tight window to reach an agreement.
Reporting by Ariyana Griffin, a graduate of Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism and Communication.
Related: Residents fear ICE presence in Los Angeles during the World Cup will dampen celebrations
Visit the official Unite Here Local 11 website (unitehere11.org) for more.
#WorldCup2026 #SoFiStadium #LaborNews
