SoFi Stadium Workers Reach Deal, Averting a World Cup Strike
Three days before SoFi Stadium hosts its first 2026 World Cup match, the union UNITE HERE Local 11 reached a tentative agreement with food and beverage contractor Legends Global, averting a threatened strike by about 2,000 hospitality workers. The union says most workers will be guaranteed $40 an hour or more, and the deal preserves the right to strike over immigration raids.
T hree days before SoFi Stadium hosts its first 2026 World Cup match, the hospitality workers' union UNITE HERE Local 11 has reached a tentative agreement with the venue's food and beverage contractor, Legends Global, averting a threatened strike. The deal covers about 2,000 cooks, dishwashers, concession workers, bartenders and servers at the Inglewood stadium, which is branded Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament.
What the workers won
Under the tentative contract, the union says most workers will be guaranteed $40 an hour or more, and tipped workers will receive raises of at least 30 percent. The agreement also includes premium pay for major events such as the World Cup and protections against automation and subcontracting, according to the union.
A first on immigration
The most unusual provision concerns federal immigration enforcement. The contract preserves the workers' right to strike if actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Department of Homeland Security threaten their safety, which the union describes as without precedent in a US labor contract. "No other collective bargaining agreement in the country preserves the right to strike in response to ICE raids and attacks," said Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11.
From strike vote to deal
The breakthrough followed a strike-authorization vote and weeks of tension over wages, worker safety and the use of automation. "We won everything we asked for," union spokesperson Maria Hernandez said. "Usually when you win a contract, workers give up the right to strike. But that did not happen in this case." A ratification vote by members was expected to follow.
Eight World Cup matches at stake
The stakes were high for FIFA and organizers. SoFi Stadium is set to host eight matches during the tournament, starting with the United States against Paraguay on Friday, June 12. A walkout days before kickoff would have disrupted concessions and service at one of the highest-profile venues of the World Cup.
Reporting: Southern California News Group (Los Angeles Daily News), with ESPN, NBC Los Angeles and LAist, June 9, 2026.