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Apr 08, 2026

Los Angeles stadium union urges FIFA to bar ICE and threatens strike before World Cup kickoff

AI Summary
Around 2,000 food‑service workers at Los Angeles Stadium, represented by Unite Here Local 11, have asked FIFA to keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of World Cup operations and warned they could strike if their demands—including job protections, a ban on ICE and automation, and affordable‑housing support—are not met.

A union representing roughly 2,000 food‑service employees at Los Angeles Stadium has formally appealed to FIFA to ensure that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stays away from World Cup activities in the city. Unite Here Local 11, which covers cooks, servers and bartenders at the Inglewood venue, warned that a strike could become imminent if its concerns are ignored.

The union highlighted that its members are still without a labor contract as the tournament approaches, and outlined three core demands for FIFA and stadium owner Kroenke Sports & Entertainment:

  • A public pledge that ICE and Border Patrol will have no role in any World Cup‑related operations.
  • Guarantees protecting union jobs, working conditions, and a ban on the use of artificial intelligence or automation that could displace workers.
  • Support for a workforce‑housing fund, stricter short‑term‑rental rules, and tax measures aimed at financing affordable housing and protecting immigrant families.

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons has indicated that the agency would play a “key part” in the event, a prospect the union says threatens the safety of both workers and visitors in Los Angeles.

“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,” said Kurt Petersen, co‑president of Local 11 in a statement.

Local 11 also noted that it has repeatedly sought meetings with FIFA since the city was awarded hosting duties, but its requests have been ignored.

The venue, known globally as SoFi Stadium, has been temporarily rebranded as Los Angeles Stadium for the World Cup due to sponsor conflicts. The stadium is slated to host eight matches, with the opening game – the United States versus Paraguay – scheduled for June 12.

The union’s broader housing demands reflect rising living‑cost pressures in Inglewood and the surrounding Los Angeles area, underscoring the intersection of labor rights, immigration policy, and urban affordability ahead of the global tournament.