World Cup workers threaten pre-game strike for $2,000 per ticket

(Bloomberg) — Workers at SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles voted to strike for higher wages on Friday, a week before the U.S. soccer team’s first World Cup game was scheduled to take place.

The measure was approved by 96% of Unite Here Local 11 members at the stadium, according to the union, after contract negotiations with Legends Global, a subcontractor managing food and beverage at the venue, stalled. Negotiations are expected to resume on Monday.

The union represents roughly 2,000 food service workers, including bartenders, dishwashers, cooks and venue concessionaires. The Legends did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League, SoFi hosts eight World Cup soccer games.

Tickets for the June 12 match against Paraguay start at $2,000. The next match is scheduled for June 15 and will feature Iran and New Zealand.

Workers at SoFi Stadium also requested protection to keep their personal information from US immigration authorities. President Donald Trump last June ordered federal troops into Los Angeles to quell protests against raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

ICE agents will assist with stadium security during the games, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a news conference this week.

“But as far as civilian immigration enforcement, they told us that specifically that’s not going to happen at any of the games. Luna said at a June 1 press conference in Los Angeles. “Any of that could change, but I believe they’re giving me the right information, because if that starts to happen, we’re going to have a whole new set of problems.”

Los Angeles is one of 11 U.S. cities hosting games since June 11, with the others taking place in three cities in Mexico and two in Canada.

The 48 national teams will play 104 games, culminating in the finals on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Other major events coming to SoFi include the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympic Swimming Games.

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