Workers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles wore ‘ICE Out’ badges ahead of the United States Men’s National Team’s World Cup 2026 debut against Paraguay.
The employees of Unite Here Local 11 – who threatened to strike ahead of the tournament – are against the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at matches.
‘The First Amendment doesn’t end when you clock in. Our members have a right to wear a union button, and this one carries a message they believe in: ICE Out of FIFA,’ union co-president Kurt Petersen.
The pins are allowed to be worn under Unite Here Local 11’s collective bargaining agreement with the venue.
‘These workers are hospitality professionals. Their job is to welcome guests and provide world-class service to every fan who walks through the gates b ut it’s hard to create a welcoming environment when workers and their communities are living in fear,’ Peterson added.
‘They’re wearing this button because they want a World Cup that’s safe and welcoming for everyone at SoFi.’
Peterson noted that in their interactions with fans, response has been positive and some ‘are even asking for the buttons’ for themselves.
The union represents 2,000 bartenders, servers, cooks and dishwashers at SoFi Stadium.
Workers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles wore ‘ICE Out’ badges ahead of the United States Men’s National Team’s World Cup 2026 debut against Paraguay
The employees of Unite Here Local 11 – who threatened to strike ahead of the tournament – are against the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at matches
On Tuesday, they announced a new agreement with the venue in time for the World Cup.
One of the key sticking points in contract negotiations was workers’ demand for protection on the job in the event of immigration raids, Petersen said.
The Los Angeles area was a target of ramped-up enforcement last summer, and community and union groups have raised concerns about the potential for federal raids during the World Cup.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna last week said the US Department of Homeland Security had assured him federal authorities would be at matches to assist with security, not civil immigration enforcement.
Under the deal, Petersen said workers retained the right to strike in case of an immigration raid at work. He said no other collective bargaining agreement in the country includes such a provision.
‘We hope we never need to use that right,’ Petersen said.
It came after workers last week voted to authorize a strike – throwing the World Cup into chaos – after contract talks had stalled with the stadium’s food service provider, Legends Global.
In a statement, Legends Global said the company was pleased to reach an agreement with workers and looks forward to providing ‘an outstanding hospitality experience’ at the World Cup matches in Inglewood.
One of the key sticking points in contract negotiations was workers’ demand for protection on the job in the event of immigration raids
The Los Angeles area was a target of ramped-up enforcement last summer, and community and union groups have raised concerns about the potential for federal raids during the World Cup
Eight matches are scheduled for SoFi Stadium, starting with Friday’s match between the US and Paraguay. The stadium, which opened in 2020, seats 70,000 people and is home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
Workers said they won wage increases and protections from subcontracting. The tentative contract will give stadium cooks among the highest wages for the job in the country, with many earning $40 an hour in about two years, said Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, which represents the workers. That’s well above California’s minimum wage.
‘Economically, it is the strongest agreement at any NFL stadium,’ Petersen told reporters outside the stadium near Los Angeles, while workers cheered. ‘In short, we won every major issue that we brought to the table.’
The contract would last through April 2028 — just ahead of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles — and includes protections against subcontracting and a contribution to build housing for hospitality workers.
Some cooks currently make about $31 an hour and will see their hourly wages rise over the next two years to $38 or $39, said Islagisbel Castillo, 21, a suite cook on the bargaining committee.
‘This is a very proud moment for all of us,’ said Yolanda Fierro, who works at the stadium. ‘We really want to secure the safety of all our employees.’
