The concern matters because major tournaments do not begin at kick-off. They begin in the streets, on the walk to the ground, in fan zones and in the informal economy around them. In Los Angeles, that ecosystem is huge.
The report says SoFi Stadium is due to host eight matches from 12 June, and that street vendors see the tournament as a rare financial opportunity. Henrry Josue, who works events around the country, said he worries for people who “não tem as mesmas oportunidades”. That gets to the central tension: for many workers, the World Cup could be both a windfall and a risk.
Inside the stadium perimeter, the issue appears to be widening beyond fear of enforcement. The report says UNITE HERE Local 11, representing around 2,000 workers, has threatened action if immigration agents are present, while advocacy groups are pressing over privacy and security concerns linked to tournament accreditation.
That is where this stops being a local political row and becomes a football governance story. sells major events as global festivals. If workers believe personal data could expose them, or if communities feel pushed to choose between income and safety, the credibility of that message comes under strain.
Security will always be tight at an event of this scale. But there is a clear difference between visible safety and a climate of fear. If Los Angeles wants the 2026 World Cup to feel open, vibrant and welcoming, that balance has to be handled with extreme care.
The next big test will come as operational plans sharpen and host-city messaging becomes more specific. Between now and the opening games, the story to watch is whether reassurance turns into trust - or whether anxiety around SoFi Stadium keeps growing.