SoFi Stadium workers urge FIFA to ban ICE from World Cup, threaten strike

A union representing about 2,000 food service workers at SoFi Stadium said on Monday it was demanding that FIFA keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement away from2026 World Cup operations in Los Angelesand warned workers could strike if their concerns are not addressed.

Unite Here Local 11, which represents cooks, servers and bartenders at the Inglewood venue, said the workers remain without a labor contract as the World Cup approaches.

The union laid out three main demands to FIFA and stadium owner Kroenke Sports & Entertainment: a public commitment that ICE and Border Patrol will play no role in the tournament, protections for union jobs and working conditions, and support for affordable housing for hospitality workers.

Acting Department of Homeland Security Director Todd Lyons has said that ICE would play a "key part" in the World Cup, a prospect the union said threatened worker and guest safety in Los Angeles.

MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Estadio BBVA – Monterrey, Mexico

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Estadio Akron –Guadalajara, Mexico

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> BMO Field – Toronto

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, California

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> BC Place – Vancouver, Canada

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lumen Field – Seattle

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> NRG Stadium – Houston

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Levi's Stadium – Santa Clara, California

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

MetLife Stadium– East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Representatives from SoFi Stadium declined to comment.

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Local 11 said it also wanted assurances that artificial intelligence and automation would not be used during the tournament to eliminate union jobs.

The union linked its labor demands to broader concerns over housing costs in the Los Angeles area, particularly in Inglewood, and called for support for a workforce housing fund, restrictions on short-term rentals and tax measures aimed at funding affordable housing and immigrant family protections.

"FIFA and its corporate sponsors will pocket billions from Los Angeles while refusing to even acknowledge the cooks, servers, and stand attendants who make this event possible," Kurt Petersen, co-president of Local 11, said in a statement.

The union said it had repeatedly sought meetings with FIFA since Los Angeles was chosen as a host city, but had been ignored. Los Angeles is set to host eight World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium, the first being the U.S. against Paraguay on June 12.

Spain – 17th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Brazil – 23rd appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> United States of America – 12th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mexico – 18th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> England – 17th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Portugal – ninth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> France – 17th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Iran – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Switzerland – 13th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Croatia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Australia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Morocco – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Austria – eighth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ecuador – fifth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Senegal – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> South Korea – 12th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Japan – eighth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Colombia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Netherlands – 12th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Germany – 21st appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Belgium – 15th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Canada – third appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Uzbekistan – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jordan – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tunisia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> South Africa – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ivory Coast – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Scotland – ninth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Algeria – fifth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> New Zealand – third appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paraguay – ninth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Egypt – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cape Verde – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Qatar – second appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Norway – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Panama – second appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Curacao – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ghana – fifth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Haiti – second appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the tournament

Spain– 17th appearance

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:SoFi Stadium workers wants FIFA to ban ICE from World Cup, threaten strike