SoFi Stadium Workers Vote to Authorise Strike Days Before World Cup Opener in Los Angeles

Preparations for the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles have been overshadowed by a labour dispute after food-service staff at **SoFi Stadium** voted to authorise a strike, just days before the Inglewood venue is scheduled to stage its first match of the tournament.

The vote does not guarantee industrial action, but it hands roughly 2,000 bartenders, servers, cooks and dishwashers the option to walk off the job. Union member **Yolanda Fierro** said that unless a deal is reached, workers could strike around the **June 12** fixture between the **United States and Paraguay**, one of the marquee early matches on US soil.

Workers say their grievances centre on pay and on safety in the workplace amid heightened immigration enforcement. Fierro noted that staff are anxious about job security and conditions as federal immigration activity has ramped up, adding a politically charged dimension to what would ordinarily be a routine contract negotiation.

A strike at one of the tournament's flagship American venues would be an embarrassing look for organisers, who have promised a seamless fan experience. With kickoff days away, both sides face pressure to reach an agreement before the dispute spills over into the World Cup itself.