By: Walter Gonzalez, Esq. and Ty Hyderally, Esq.
June 22, 2026

The World Cup has arrived in New Jersey!

That means fans, flags, traffic, jerseys, food, security, transportation, hotel rooms, pop-up events, brand promotions, cleanup crews, delivery drivers, bartenders, servers, parking workers, temporary staff, and a lot of excitement.

It also means work.

A lot of work.

And while the 2026 FIFA World Cup may be one of the biggest sporting events New Jersey has ever hosted, the basic rule remains the same:

World Cup jobs are still jobs.

In May 2026, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced a World Cup resource hub for workers and employers.[1] The agency described the site as a centralized resource to help workers and businesses understand New Jersey labor laws during the tournament. NJDOL specifically referenced issues including wage and hour laws, worker classification, minimum wage, overtime, worker protections, business registration, and complaint filing.

That is important because large events can create confusion and confusion often benefits employers more than workers.

Some workers may be told they are “volunteers.” Others may be called “independent contractors.” Some may be hired for one event, one shift, one weekend, or one temporary promotion. Some may work for staffing agencies, subcontractors, restaurants, hotels, cleaning companies, security vendors, transportation services, or event organizers.

Image by macrovector_official on Magnific

Labels are Important But They Are Not Everything

Calling someone a contractor does not automatically make them one. Calling someone a volunteer does not always mean they can legally be unpaid. Calling someone seasonal, temporary, per diem, event staff, or promotional talent does not erase wage rights.

If you are working, you should ask basic questions.

• What is my hourly rate? Am I being paid for all hours worked?
• Will I receive overtime if I work more than 40 hours in a week?
• Who is my actual employer?
• Am I being paid through payroll or by cash app, check, or cash?
• Am I being required to arrive early, stay late, attend training, set up, break down, travel between assignments, or wait on-site without pay?

Those details matter.

World Cup-related work may also create language access and immigrant-worker issues. NJDOL’s resource hub includes multilingual resources, which makes sense because the tournament will bring workers and fans from many countries and many communities. Workers should know that immigration status does not give an employer permission to steal wages or ignore labor laws. Employers also should not use language barriers, fear, or confusion to avoid paying workers properly.

There may also be safety issues. Recent reporting has raised concerns about heat risks for workers supporting the World Cup, including security staff, concession workers, delivery personnel, EMTs, and other event-related workers who may work long hours outdoors or in crowded venues.[2]

In New Jersey, the excitement of the event does not excuse unsafe or unlawful working conditions.

Employees should keep records. Save schedules, texts, emails, screenshots, pay stubs, time records, onboarding documents, job postings, and communications about pay. If you are told you are not entitled to overtime, ask for that in writing. If you are told you are a volunteer but you are performing regular work for a business, document it. If you are paid in cash, keep your own records of dates, hours, location, supervisor, and amount paid.

The World Cup should be a celebration.

It should not be an excuse for wage theft.

So enjoy the games. Cheer for your team. Wear the jersey.

And if you are working the tournament, remember this: the whistle does not blow on your rights just because FIFA is in town.

If you have any questions regarding your rights as an employee, you should seek an experienced attorney who concentrates in employment law. Our firm has been concentrating in employment law for over twenty-three (23) years!

En nuestra firma hablamos español. This blog is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and may not reasonably be relied upon as such. If you face a legal issue, you should consult a qualified attorney for independent legal advice regarding your particular set of facts. This blog may constitute attorney advertising. This blog is not intended to communicate with anyone in a state or other jurisdiction where such a blog may fail to comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state or jurisdiction.

 [1] https://www.nj.gov/labor/lwdhome/press/2026/20260518_FIFA.shtml

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/14/world-cup-heat-workers?CMP=share_btn_url