World Cup Organizers and FIFA in Trouble, Strike Announced at One of the Key Stadiums

(Patria) - Just a few days before the start of the 2026 World Cup matches at the "SoFi" Stadium in Los Angeles, more than 2,000 employees have announced the possibility of going on strike due to failed negotiations over a new collective agreement.

The union UNITE HERE Local 11 announced that as many as 96 percent of members supported the decision to authorize a strike, meaning workers could stop work at any time if their demands are not met.

The union represents cashiers, cooks, waiters, workers at food and beverage concession stands, as well as other employees involved in organizing events at the stadium.

World Cup Under Pressure

The "SoFi" Stadium, which will be called "Los Angeles Stadium" during the World Cup, is one of the key hosts of the 2026 World Cup. A total of eight matches are planned there, including the first match of the United States national team against Paraguay on June 12.

Workers point out that the existing contract with the company Legends Global, which manages catering and service operations at the stadium, has expired, while months of negotiations have not led to an agreement on new working conditions.

Demand Addressed to FIFA

In addition to issues of wages and working conditions, the union has asked FIFA to ban the presence of agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inside the stadium during the championship.

Worker representatives state that they want to protect employees from potential immigration controls which, according to them, could cause fear and insecurity among workers.

"No worker should be forced to choose between their job and personal freedom," the union said.

Possible Problems for Organizers

An additional challenge is the fact that FIFA requires security checks for all workers employed during the championship, TRT reports. In the event of a strike, organizers would find it difficult to quickly hire replacement staff, as new workers would not have the necessary accreditations and approvals.

Negotiations between the union and the company Legends Global are expected to continue at the beginning of next week.

If an agreement is not reached, a special workers' committee will decide on the date of a possible strike.

A potential work stoppage represents a new challenge for the organizers of the World Cup, which will be jointly organized by the USA, Canada, and Mexico for the first time in history, and is expected to attract millions of fans from around the world.