The roughly 2,000 cooks, bartenders, servers, and dishwashers working at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, have reached a tentative labor agreement that appears to avert a strike just days before the venue hosts its first FIFA World Cup match.

The agreement was announced Tuesday, June 9, by UNITE HERE Local 11, which represents the workers employed by stadium food-service operator Legends Global. Union Co-President Kurt Petersen called it the strongest contract ever negotiated at a National Football League stadium and said it includes what he described as “massive raises.”

The timing was critical.

Just last week, workers voted 96% in favor of authorizing a strike after negotiations stalled. Had a walkout occurred, fans attending Friday’s opening match between the United States and Paraguay could have faced long concession lines, reduced food and beverage service, and potential disruptions during one of the tournament’s first marquee events.

Under the proposed agreement, most workers will earn more than $40 per hour within about two years, placing many of the stadium’s concession employees among the highest-paid hospitality workers in the country. Tipped employees are expected to receive pay increases of at least 30%.

The contract also includes premium compensation for major events, including the World Cup and next year’s Super Bowl, contributions to a housing fund for hospitality workers, and protections designed to limit subcontracting and guard against job losses from automation.

One of the most unusual provisions centers on immigration concerns.

According to union leaders, workers sought protections allowing them to leave the workplace if federal immigration enforcement activities threaten their safety during tournament operations. Petersen said the language is believed to be the first provision of its kind in a stadium labor contract.

The concern stems from FIFA’s accreditation requirements, which require workers to submit personal information including Social Security numbers and fingerprints. Union officials expressed concern that the data could potentially be accessed by federal immigration authorities.

Those concerns intensified after Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said the agency would play a role in World Cup security operations.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California has filed a complaint with state regulators and urged California Attorney General Rob Bonta to examine whether the accreditation process could expose immigrant workers to unnecessary risk.

At the same time, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the Department of Homeland Security assured local officials that federal personnel assigned to World Cup venues would focus on security responsibilities and not conduct civil immigration enforcement actions at matches.

For the business side of the tournament, the agreement removes a potentially costly problem.

Legends Global, which manages food and beverage operations at major venues around the world, said it was pleased to reach the tentative agreement and looked forward to serving fans during the tournament. A labor dispute during one of the most-watched sporting events on the planet would have created operational challenges not only for the company but also for FIFA, which is expected to generate billions of dollars in revenue from the competition.

The contract carries significance beyond this summer’s tournament.

The agreement runs through April 30, 2028, placing its expiration alongside more than 100 stadium, hotel, airport, and concession contracts scheduled to expire shortly before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Labor leaders view that alignment as a strategic opportunity to strengthen bargaining power ahead of another global sporting event.

The stadium, known commercially as SoFi Stadium, opened in 2020 and seats approximately 70,000 spectators. It serves as the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. For the World Cup, the venue is operating under the temporary name Los Angeles Stadium because FIFA tournament rules restrict certain commercial sponsorship branding.

The stadium is scheduled to host eight World Cup matches, beginning Friday with the United States-Paraguay opener. The tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will run for 39 days and is expected to attract millions of attendees and billions of television viewers worldwide.

The deal is not final. Union members are expected to vote Wednesday on whether to ratify the agreement.

If approved, one of the biggest potential labor disruptions facing the World Cup will be resolved before the first fans arrive at the concession stands.

JBizNews Desk — Los Angeles

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