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As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws closer, the controversy surrounding the tournament continues to dominate headlines.
If it isn't the inflated ticket prices, it's the actions of the US President on the world stage, but either way, people around the world are rarely talking about the World Cup in terms of the players and teams competing.
The latest controversy ahead of the tournament relates to the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and its workers.
SoFi Stadium workers threaten to strike ahead of World Cup
The SoFi Stadium is set to be one of the most used at the tournament, with a total of eight matches scheduled to take place at the 70,000-seater arena.
However, all of these matches are now under threat after a union representing cooks, servers and bartenders at the stadium threatened to take strike action over a number of issues.
In a statement, United Here Local 11 set out three demands to FIFA and the stadium's owners, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.
Firstly, they want assurances that ICE and Border Patrol will have no role at the FIFA World Cup. Secondly, they want guarantees that jobs won't be replaced by AI. And thirdly, they want support for affordable housing for all workers at the stadium.
BREAKING 🚨: SoFi Stadium workers threaten STRIKE before 2026 World Cup!
— World Stadiums ⌘ (@Worldstadium_EN) April 11, 2026
Union demands: No ICE at LA events, temporary Airbnb ban, and protection from AI replacing jobs.
With just 60 days to kickoff, FIFA faces major chaos in LA. 😱🏟️ pic.twitter.com/NsnWUr8899
The biggest issue appears to be with ICE, the government arm responsible for investigating, detaining and deporting illegal immigrants. United Here Local 11's co-president, Kurt Petersen, said:
“Our members should not be forced into the middle of heavily armed enforcement operations. Our contracts guarantee a safe workplace, and if hotels and stadiums choose to allow ICE onto their properties, our workers have the right to walk out.”
At the time of writing, the union are yet to receive a response from FIFA or Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, but both bodies should be taking the strike threats recently given that United Here Local 11 organised nearly 200 strikes in Los Angeles in 2023 and 2024.
FGG says: A right to be concerned
None of the three points raised by United Here Local 11 could be described as unreasonable, so it would be odd if nobody within FIFA or Kroenke Sports & Entertainment came forward with a response in the coming days. If they don't, then strike action during the World Cup is very much on the cards.