The union at the World Cup venue has asked FIFA to keep ICE officials away from the venue to reduce anxiety.
Published April 7, 2026
The union representing about 2,000 food service workers at Los Angeles Stadium has called on FIFA to keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) away from World Cup operations in the city, warning that workers could go on strike if their concerns are not addressed.
Unite Here Local 11, which represents cooks, servers and bartenders at the Inglewood venue, said Monday that workers do not have labor contracts as the World Cup approaches.
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The union presented FIFA and stadium owner Kroenke Sports & Entertainment with three main demands: a commitment that ICE and Border Patrol would have no role at the tournament, protections for union jobs and working conditions, and support for affordable housing for hospitality workers.
ICE acting president Todd Lyons said ICE would play a “vital role” in the World Cup, but the union said the prospect threatened the safety of workers and guests in Los Angeles.
Local 11 said it also wants assurances that artificial intelligence and automation will not be used to eliminate union jobs during the convention.
The union linked worker demands to broader concerns about housing costs in the Los Angeles area, particularly Inglewood, and called for support for a workforce housing fund, limits on short-term rentals, and tax measures aimed at funding affordable housing and protections for immigrant families.
“FIFA and its corporate sponsors will extort billions of dollars from Los Angeles without even acknowledging the cooks, servers, and attendants who make this event possible,” Local 11 co-president Kurt Petersen said in a statement.
The association said its repeated requests for talks with FIFA have been ignored since Los Angeles was chosen as the host city.
The venue is known as SoFi Stadium, but due to sponsor conflicts, it was rebranded to Los Angeles Stadium for the World Cup.
The stadium in Los Angeles is scheduled to host eight World Cup matches, the first of which will be on June 12th between the United States and Paraguay.
