World Cup Workers Threaten Strikes in Major U.S. Cities

As the World Cup countdown ticks toward 11 June, tension is rising far from the pitch. In three American host cities, the workers who will feed, serve and welcome fans are threatening to walk away just as the tournament begins.

The world’s biggest single-sport event could open under the shadow of strikes.

Los Angeles: SoFi workers ready to down tools

In Los Angeles, the numbers are stark. Around 2,000 hospitality workers at SoFi Stadium, represented by Unite Here Local 11, have voted by 96% to authorize a strike. The timing could not be more pointed: the US men’s opening match against Paraguay is set for 12 June at the same venue.

Cashiers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, concessions workers and food attendants are all covered by the vote. If they walk, the stadium’s food and beverage operation could be stripped to the bone on one of the biggest days in US soccer history.

“We’re just trying to make things fair,” said Eva Miles, a bartender at SoFi since it opened in 2021. For her, the fight is about basic survival in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. She spends two hours commuting to work every day; some of her colleagues travel even longer.

“Without us, they don’t have a stadium. Are they going to cook? Are they going to pour those drinks? Are they going to serve these people?” she asked. Workers are pushing for pay above $30 an hour, arguing that the money pouring into the Fifa World Cup should be reflected in their paychecks.

“Let’s see them live on our wage, let’s see them raise a family,” Miles said. She loves the job, the fans, the spectacle. But she wants to be able to live near the place she helps bring to life. “I know they’re spending a lot of money on this Fifa World Cup, so I don’t understand why we can’t get what we want and everybody be happy.”

The dispute is not just about wages. Unite Here, the ACLU of Southern California and LAANE have filed a formal complaint with the California Privacy Protection Agency and the state department of justice, targeting Fifa’s accreditation policy. The policy, they argue, forces workers to disclose immigration information to work the tournament, raising fears in a workforce heavily made up of immigrants.

Enrique Fernández, general vice-president for immigration, civil rights and diversity at Unite Here, stressed how deeply that issue cuts. The union’s members come from nearly 200 countries, and the organization traces its roots to the 1912 Bread and Roses strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, led by immigrant textile workers.

“They experience the effects of anti-immigrant policy and rhetoric every day, and they don’t need the added stress of tracking ICE agents at their workplaces,” Fernández said.

SoFi Stadium declined to comment directly, pointing instead to Legends Global, the concessionaire that employs the workers. A Legends spokesperson said the company has “enjoyed a strong relationship with Unite Here Local 11 for more than a decade” and remains committed to a “fair agreement through good faith negotiations,” adding that it looks forward to delivering an “outstanding hospitality experience” for fans during the World Cup.

That promise will be tested if thousands of workers decide not to show up.

Seattle: World Cup host hotel on edge

The rumblings are not confined to southern California. In Seattle, just a short walk from Lumen Field, another group of World Cup workers has taken a similar stand.

At the Embassy Suite Hilton near the stadium, where fans will pack in for six World Cup matches, about 100 hotel workers represented by Unite Here Local 8 have voted 94% in favor of a strike authorization. Their demands echo those in Los Angeles: meaningful wage increases, year-round health insurance, protections from ICE and better staffing levels.

“We need the wages to improve,” said front desk employee Hayden Eyerly. He said the hotel’s offer of roughly $0.80 an hour in annual raises over the life of the contract simply does not keep pace with soaring living costs, especially gas.

The pressure goes beyond pay. Eyerly said some workers lose health insurance during the tourism offseason when their hours drop, leaving them exposed until business picks up again. Staffing, he added, still has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, leaving “every department” stretched thin.

“Everyone is very tired. Every department has been working on a skeleton crew,” he said. “We’re trying to make real changes, a real positive impact in our lives. We all deserve to work one job, we all deserve to come home and have the energy to be there for our families.”

Many of his colleagues are immigrants, he noted, and have been advised by their immigration attorney not to speak publicly, out of fear that doing so could invite retaliation tied to their status.

Hilton, for its part, says it is preparing for any scenario. A company spokesperson said the hotel has contingency plans if a strike goes ahead and remains “committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair and reasonable agreement” for both workers and the hotel.

Six World Cup games are scheduled at Lumen Field. The workers greeting fans at the front desk, cleaning rooms and keeping the operation running may still be deciding whether they will be there.

Philadelphia: Hotel workers set a deadline

On the other side of the country, another World Cup city is staring at a labor showdown on the eve of the tournament.

In Philadelphia, workers at six hotels represented by Unite Here Local 274 are threatening possible strikes during the city’s World Cup matches. Their contracts have expired, and no new agreements are in place. A strike deadline of 12 June has been set: if no deals are reached by then, workers could walk out just as the global spotlight lands on the city.

At the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District, server Maciah Magloughlin said staff are pushing for substantial wage increases, a cap of 15 rooms per day for housekeepers, ICE protections for immigrant workers and more affordable health coverage for dependents.

“The hotels have the money to give us what we deserve,” Magloughlin said, pointing to the projected $770m economic impact of the World Cup for the Philadelphia area. The argument is simple: if the city and hotels are poised to cash in, the people who make the industry function should share in the windfall.

“What we’re fighting for is that the people who hold this industry up on their back also get a piece of that,” Magloughlin said. For many, that piece would mean the ability to send their children to school, take time off, or simply buy groceries without panic. “That’s not fair, especially when we’ve got such a big summer coming.”

The Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District said in a statement that it respects workers’ rights to engage in legally protected activity and is aiming for a fair contract, while insisting it remains focused on ensuring guests enjoy their stay as negotiations continue.

The World Cup promises full stadiums, packed hotels and sold-out bars across the United States. The spectacle depends on thousands of workers whose names will never appear on a team sheet.

In Los Angeles, Seattle and Philadelphia, those workers are signaling they are no longer willing to be treated as an afterthought. As the first whistle approaches, the question is no longer just who will start up front for the US, but whether the people serving the fans will be there at all.