Why is the SoFi Stadium union threatening to strike at the World Cup?: UNITE HERE Local 11, representing roughly 2,000 SoFi Stadium food and beverage workers, wrote to FIFA and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment demanding a commitment that ICE will not operate at the venue. A strike is threatened if no commitment is given.Source: UNITE HERE Local 11 letter, 7 April 2026
What is UNITE HERE Local 11?: The hospitality workers' union covering Los Angeles and Orange Counties, representing hotel, restaurant and stadium catering staff including the event workforce at SoFi Stadium.
Could a workers' strike disrupt World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium?: UNITE HERE Local 11's 2,000 stadium workers cover food, beverage and catering operations. A strike would affect fan services at all eight SoFi Stadium World Cup matches, including the semi-finals.Source: UNITE HERE Local 11 letter, 7 April 2026
Has FIFA responded to the SoFi Stadium ICE demand?: As of 13 April 2026 FIFA had not publicly responded to the UNITE HERE Local 11 letter.Source: Lowdown reporting
What did UNITE HERE Local 11 file against FIFA?: On 8 May 2026, Local 11 filed an NLRB unfair labour practice charge naming FIFA, Legends Hospitality, and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment — the first US labour case to name FIFA directly as a co-respondent. It also filed a CCPA privacy complaint with the California AG.Source: Lowdown
Is there a strike threat at the 2026 World Cup opening match?: Yes. UNITE HERE Local 11 described a strike at SoFi Stadium for the 12 June 2026 opener as 'pretty realistic' after FIFA did not respond to its April demands for an ICE moratorium for stadium workers.Source: Lowdown
Who is UNITE HERE Local 11?: UNITE HERE Local 11 is the southern California hospitality workers' union, representing roughly 32,000 workers — predominantly immigrants — in hotels, airports, and stadiums. It is affiliated with the UNITE HERE international union of about 300,000 members.
What is the CCPA complaint against FIFA over?: UNITE HERE Local 11 and the California AG complaint alleges FIFA's World Cup accreditation system shared personal data of workers and volunteers with third parties without consent, in violation of the California Consumer Privacy Act.Source: Lowdown

Background

UNITE HERE Local 11 is the hospitality workers' union covering southern California, affiliated with the UNITE HERE international (approximately 300,000 hotel, gaming, and food service workers across North America). Local 11 represents roughly 32,000 workers in the greater Los Angeles area, predominantly immigrant workers in hotels, airports, and stadiums. It has a history of coordinated labour action, including a multi-hotel strike across Los Angeles in 2023. The union's immigrant-heavy membership base shapes the political edge of its World Cup campaign.

In April 2026, Local 11 wrote to FIFA and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment demanding a public ICE moratorium for roughly 2,000 SoFi Stadium workers during the World Cup. FIFA did not reply after twelve days.

On 8 May 2026, the union filed a National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) unfair labour practice charge naming FIFA, Legends Hospitality, and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment as co-respondents — the first US labour case to name FIFA directly as an employer. Simultaneously, it filed a California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) complaint with the California Attorney General over FIFA's accreditation system sharing personal data of workers and volunteers without consent. Union coordinator Delia Granados described a strike at SoFi for the 12 June opener as 'pretty realistic'.