UNITE HERE Local 11 Files California Complaint Over FIFA Accreditation
UNITE HERE Local 11, representing nearly 2,000 SoFi Stadium workers, filed a complaint with California's attorney general alleging FIFA's World Cup accreditation process violates the California Consumer Privacy Act. The union claims the requirements expose workers to targeting by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through mandatory sharing of sensitive personal data. Workers must provide Social Security numbers, nationality, addresses and countries of birth, plus consent to data disclosure for security background checks.
SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles ranks among 11 U.S. venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which spans 16 stadiums across North America. The complaint, as reported by The Athletic, demands FIFA publicly commit to barring ICE from tournament sites. The FBI has identified the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, as a key accreditation partner.
The stadium will host eight World Cup matches, including the U.S. team's opener against Paraguay on June 12. Union members protested outside the FIFA World Cup 2026 Los Angeles office on May 1, 2026, displaying "Kick ICE Out" signs.
The complaint describes workers facing a choice between employment and privacy rights under state law. It accuses FIFA of endangering stadium staff who prepare food, serve drinks and maintain facilities during the tournament.
