Hospitality workers argue that those who make the tournament possible deserve to share in its economic benefits.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds across North America, hospitality workers in several U.S. host cities are using the global tournament as leverage in contract negotiations with hotel and stadium employers. Their message is straightforward: workers who make the event possible deserve a fair share of the economic benefits generated by one of the world’s largest sporting events.
Los Angeles: SoFi Stadium Workers Reach Agreement
The first major labor action took place in Los Angeles, where approximately 2,000 hospitality workers at SoFi Stadium, represented by UNITE HERE Local 11, voted to authorize a strike that could have begun just before World Cup matches.
Instead, the union reached a tentative agreement on June 9, which members ratified by an overwhelming 99% vote on June 11, just one day before the stadium hosted its first World Cup match between the United States and Paraguay.
In addition to significant wage increases for both tipped and non-tipped employees, workers had demanded protections related to immigration enforcement. The new agreement includes contract language preserving workers’ right to strike during the life of the contract if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity threatens employees.
Seattle: Hotel Workers Walk Out Near Lumen Field
The second major action occurred in Seattle, where members of UNITE HERE Local 8 launched an indefinite strike on June 18 at the Embassy Suites Pioneer Square, located just minutes from Lumen Field, another World Cup host venue.
World Cup matches were scheduled in Seattle beginning June 19, with additional matches nearby in Vancouver, British Columbia.
According to the union, approximately 113 hotel workers are seeking:
Protections from ICE enforcement activity
Fair wage increases
Restoration of pre-pandemic staffing levels
Year-round health care coverage
One striking worker described the stalled negotiations:
“We’ve been bargaining with this company for over three months and there’s been almost no progress. What they have on the table right now is a 40-cent raise while rooms over here are selling for $1,000 to $2,000 during this busy season.”
Philadelphia: Workers Demand the Citywide Standard
In Philadelphia, workers at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown began striking on June 21.
Represented by UNITE HERE Local 274, the workers are seeking wages and benefits consistent with the new citywide standard already secured at five unionized Center City hotels.
According to the union, that standard includes:
A minimum wage of $30 per hour for non-tipped workers by January 2028
A daily housekeeping quota capped at 15 rooms
Additional improvements in wages, staffing, and working conditions
Union member Francine Heason explained the workers’ position:
“We told them we were ready to strike the World Cup. They could have easily avoided this by signing the contract... We are not worth less than the other hotel workers in this city, and we are going to fight for what we deserve.”
The Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown is owned by CL Hotels, a Miami-based investment firm, and operated by Aimbridge Hospitality.
A Common Strategy
Although the disputes involve different employers and cities, they share a common theme.
While governments and corporations celebrate the enormous economic benefits associated with hosting major international sporting events, the workers who clean hotel rooms, prepare meals, maintain facilities, and serve guests often argue they are left behind.
This year’s labor actions also reflect another uniquely American reality surrounding the World Cup. Several unions have made immigration protections a central bargaining demand, citing concerns over increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity and broader federal immigration enforcement policies. Workers and union leaders argue that employees should not have to fear immigration enforcement while helping make one of the world’s largest sporting events possible.
For these workers and their unions, the World Cup has become more than an international sporting event—it has become a bargaining opportunity and a global stage on which they can make their demands visible to millions.
Whether this strategy ultimately leads to lasting improvements in wages, workplace protections, and staffing standards remains to be seen. What is already clear, however, is that labor unions across multiple host cities are demonstrating a coordinated effort to ensure that the workers behind the spectacle share in its success.
Sources
Spectrum News – SoFi Workers Approve Contract, Averting World Cup Strike
NBC10 Philadelphia – Workers Strike at Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown
The Philadelphia Inquirer – Hotel Workers and World Cup Contract Fight
Thank you for highlighting this important issue. Fair working conditions, dignity, and respect for workers should never be viewed as obstacles to economic success. From my experience in Afghanistan, I learned that stable societies are built not only through security, but also through justice, opportunity, and respect for the people whose daily work keeps institutions and economies functioning.
As someone who, as a younger person, cleaned hotel/motel rooms, rich people's houses, and was a cocktail server, entertainer, and bartender, I heartily endorse this motion!