Hospitality workers at SoFi Stadium are threatening to stage a walkout, potentially throwing the World Cup into disarray just days before the tournament is set to kick off.
The 2026 World Cup gets underway on Thursday, following weeks of headlines dominated by FIFA’s decision-making on ticket pricing and its U-turn on prohibiting fans from bringing plastic water bottles into stadiums across North America. The tournament’s opening fixture will see Mexico take on South Africa in Mexico City, a rematch of the 2010 opener.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Men’s National Team is scheduled to launch its World Cup campaign on Friday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, against Paraguay. However, preparations for the tournament in Los Angeles have been disrupted by news of a potential walkout by hospitality workers just days before the World Cup gets underway.
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According to the Wall Street Journal, hospitality workers at the $5.5 billion venue, which serves as home to both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, have voted to strike just days before the World Cup kicks off.
Staff at SoFi Stadium voted ‘overwhelmingly’ in favor of the strike at the stadium, which employs approximately 2,000 hospitality workers. It remains unclear when they intend to stage the walkout. However, the WSJ reports that union officials have indicated it could occur “at any time” and that the USMNT’s opening World Cup game would be “an opportune moment.”
Legends Global, the company that manages concessions at SoFi Stadium, has stated it believes a deal can be struck with the union after its contract with workers expired last year.
The company has also confirmed that a contingency plan is in place for staffing should a strike take place.
Kurt Petersen, co-president of the union representing SoFi workers, Unite Here Local 11, said, via the LA Local, “I think the combination of the World Cup being unable to get their stuff together and the greediness of the stadium owners may end up leading to workers having to call for a strike.
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He further stated: “It is kind of a mess. Which is also adding fuel to people’s anger. Like, really? We have this massive event coming, you want us to work super hard and you can’t even tell us what we’re gonna be doing when we’re coming in, what our schedules are?”
Both parties are scheduled to resume negotiations on Monday, June 8, via The Mirror US.
SoFi Stadium is set to host eight World Cup matches, including two USMNT fixtures. The venue will stage the USMNT’s opening game against Paraguay on June 12 and their group stage encounter with Turkey on June 25.
Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Group B fixture on June 18 will also be held at SoFi, along with Belgium and Iran’s clash on June 21. Iran will additionally face New Zealand at the venue on June 15.
Following those matches, SoFi is scheduled to host two rounds of 32 games, before staging one of the quarterfinals.
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