INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Over 2,000 food and beverage employees at SoFi Stadium ratified a new contract with Legends Hospitality by a 99 percent vote just hours ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup opened in Los Angeles. 

This comes about a week after employees at SoFi Stadium voted 96 percent in favor of authorizing a strike during a two-day vote, staging a potential walk off organized by Unite Here Local 11.

“This contract proves what workers can accomplish when we stand together,” said Susana Lahargue, a Stand Lead at SoFi Stadium. “We fought for fair wages, stronger job protections, and the right to protect ourselves and our families. As the world comes to Los Angeles for the World Cup, we are proud to welcome fans knowing that workers have secured a contract that respects our work and our dignity.”

SoFi Stadium officials avoided a strike that observers say could have changed plans in a major way for World Cup host FIFA as it planned open cermony activities and prepped for the U.S. Men's National Team's opening match against Paraguay on Friday June 12. 

Robert Tsigler, the Founder of the Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, shared that the possible walk off during such a prominent sporting event could be an economic setback for the stadium and disrupt the experience for employees and the community. 

“Civil immigration enforcement inside commercial venues creates disruption in tournament logistics and jeopardizes operational stability,” Tsigler said. “The large-scale sports events are tightly timed, and every fifteen minutes that they are late cost thousands of dollars in lost revenue. If the federal agents invade the employee quarters, within one hour worker efficiency will fall by half. Clear operating boundaries protect the local community and focus the spotlight solely on stadium operation.”

The negoiated agreement ratified by union membes symbolizes a significant victory for local workers, many who fear intimidation tactics by ICE and unreasonable demands from FIFA.

Major points of the agreement are as follows:

• An unprecedented right to strike during the World Cup if workers reasonably believe ICE or activity at or near the stadium threatens their safety.

• More than 30 percent increases in automatic gratuities for bartenders and servers. 

• Premium pay for Mega Events. Time-and-a-half for all World Cup matches and double-time for the Super Bowl.

• $9 per hour in raises for non-tipped workers.  Cooks will earn $40 an hour.

• Concession Stand Workers will increase their guaranteed rate from $27 to $40 an hour.  

• Historic privacy protections for accreditation ensuring workers are not required to provide Social Security numbers, immigration status, citizenship information, or work authorization documents to obtain event credentials.

• A 77 percent reduction in subcontracting over the life of the contract, protecting thousands of union jobs, with penalties for non compliance.

"This is a historic victory for Los Angeles," said Kurt Petersen, Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11. "While the powerful capitulated, these workers stood their ground. The dishwashers, cooks, bartenders and servers stared down FIFA and ICE, refused to trade their dignity for a paycheck, and won one of the strongest stadium contracts in the country. They are the heroes of the World Cup." 

Ariyana Griffin is a graduate of Morgan State University's School of Global Journalism and Communication.