FIFA president Gianni Infantino allegedly asked an adviser with connections to US President Donald Trump’s administration to secure a work permit for his family’s housekeeper after she lost her legal authorization to work in the country.
The allegations, reported by the New York Post on Tuesday, November 3, come as Trump’s administration continues to tighten immigration rules for foreign nationals living and working in the United States.
According to leaked documents and three sources familiar with the matter, Infantino’s Nicaraguan housekeeper, Yajarlin del Socorro Fernandez, remained on FIFA’s payroll for months after her work authorisation was revoked in June 2025.
An internal FIFA employment letter reportedly confirmed that Fernandez worked full-time for the football governing body’s American division from August 2024 until October 2025.
The 33-year-old had initially received permission to work under a humanitarian parole programme, which the Trump administration subsequently terminated for several nationalities, including Nicaraguans.
However, she received a fresh work permit in January 2026.
The newspaper alleged that Infantino sought assistance from Carlos Cordeiro, a former FIFA official who was appointed to Trump’s White House World Cup task force in May 2025.
Cordeiro reportedly used his government connections to help Fernandez obtain new immigration authorization.
The report also alleged that an incorrect residential address had been used in her earlier immigration paperwork.
Immigration lawyer Michael Wildes, who previously represented First Lady Melania Trump, told the newspaper that securing a new permit under such circumstances would be highly unusual for an ordinary applicant.
However, there is no public finding that the permit was improperly issued or that Infantino or Cordeiro broke the law.
FIFA, Infantino and US immigration authorities did not respond to the newspaper’s questions. Cordeiro said he was unaware of the story.
The allegations emerge amid growing scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership ahead of FIFA’s presidential election in March 2027.
