Common Questions

Which World Cup games are at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles?: SoFi Stadium (known as Los Angeles Stadium for the World Cup) hosts eight matches, including USA vs Paraguay on 12 June, Iran vs New Zealand on 15 June, and Belgium vs Iran on 21 June.Source: background
How much did SoFi Stadium cost to build?: Over $5.5 billion, making it one of the most expensive stadiums ever constructed.Source: quick_facts
Why did Iran want to move their matches away from Los Angeles?: Iran requested relocation to Mexico, partly due to the large Iranian-American diaspora in California and political concerns about the match environment. FIFA rejected the request.Source: background
Which World Cup matches are at SoFi Stadium in 2026?: SoFi Stadium (renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament) hosts eight World Cup fixtures including USA vs Paraguay on 12 June, Iran vs New Zealand on 15 June, and Belgium vs Iran on 21 June.
Is there a strike threat at SoFi Stadium during the World Cup?: Yes. UNITE HERE Local 11 filed NLRB charges on 8 May 2026 naming FIFA, Legends Hospitality, and Kroenke as co-respondents. A coordinator described a strike at the 12 June opener as 'pretty realistic'.Source: Lowdown
Why does Iran play at SoFi Stadium in the 2026 World Cup?: Iran was assigned to Group G with matches scheduled at SoFi in Los Angeles. Iran requested relocation to Mexico, which FIFA formally rejected in April 2026. The match schedule cannot be changed under FIFA's host agreements.Source: Lowdown
Are SoFi Stadium workers going on strike during the World Cup?: UNITE HERE Local 11's roughly 2,000 SoFi hospitality workers began a strike-authorisation vote in early June 2026, which could lead to a picket at the 12 June USA v Paraguay opener.Source: event
How many World Cup matches is SoFi Stadium hosting?: SoFi Stadium hosts eight World Cup fixtures, including USA vs Paraguay (12 June), Iran vs New Zealand (15 June), and Belgium vs Iran (21 June).Source: event
Why is there a labour dispute at SoFi Stadium?: UNITE HERE Local 11 has been without a contract for over a year and is demanding FIFA commit that ICE will not operate at the venue. FIFA has not responded, leading to the strike-authorisation vote.Source: event

Background

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, rebranded as Los Angeles Stadium for the duration of the 2026 World Cup under FIFA's neutral-naming policy, will host eight World Cup fixtures, including USA vs Paraguay (12 June), Iran vs New Zealand (15 June) and Belgium vs Iran (21 June). The stadium has a capacity of approximately 70,000 and features a translucent ETFE roof allowing natural light while controlling the climate, a significant consideration for summer football in Southern California. Completed in 2020 at a cost of over $5.5 billion, it is the home of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.

Iran's Group G matches at SoFi were central to the diplomatic row over Iran's World Cup participation. Iran sought relocation to Mexico, which FIFA formally rejected on 12 April . The large Iranian-American diaspora in California was a specific concern; Los Angeles is the most diverse city in North America and Iran's Group G fixtures will draw huge diaspora communities whatever the final diplomatic resolution.

UNITE HERE Local 11, representing roughly 2,000 SoFi hospitality workers, wrote to FIFA on 7 April demanding a commitment that federal immigration agents will not participate in tournament operations. As of 19 April, FIFA had not replied; the union expanded its demands to include a prohibition on AI systems displacing union roles and a regional ban on Airbnb, one of FIFA's own tournament sponsors, operating short-term rentals during the tournament .

On 8 May 2026, UNITE HERE Local 11 filed an NLRB unfair labour practice charge naming FIFA, Legends Hospitality, and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment as co-respondents over SoFi working conditions. A strike at the 12 June opener was described as 'pretty realistic'. Iran's participation in SoFi matches remains unresolved — FFIRI issued a 10-point ultimatum on 9 May.

In early June 2026, the roughly 2,000 UNITE HERE Local 11 hospitality workers at SoFi began a formal strike-authorisation vote, escalating beyond the May NLRB filing and stadium rallies. A successful vote would clear the PATH for a picket line at the 12 June USA v Paraguay opener, placing a labour dispute as the first major image the tournament serves to a global audience.

How the World Sees Them

USA

A picket at the American team's opening game would hand domestic and international critics a vivid tournament-launch story about workers' rights.

FIFA

No public response to the Local 11 strike threat; silence treats the dispute as a host-nation labour matter, not a FIFA commercial risk.

Iran

Iran's Group G games in Los Angeles were the specific flashpoint: the large Iranian-American diaspora in California was seen as a threat to the team's political insulation, driving the relocation request FIFA refused.

UNITE HERE Local 11

A year without a contract and no FIFA response to the ICE-data demand have moved the union past letters and rallies to a binding strike vote.