Embattled FIFA chief Gianni Infantino 'used Trump adviser to get work permit for his undocumented Nicaraguan housekeeper'

FIFA President Gianni Infantino allegedly influenced Trump administration officials to fast-track a work permit for his undocumented Nicaraguan housekeeper after she lost her legal status, according to bombshell documents. The global soccer chief is alleged to have turned to politically-connected contacts to secure a new work permit for Yajarlin del Socorro Fernandez, 33, after the White House revoked her legal permission to work in the United States, according to documents reviewed by the Daily Mail. The Nicaraguan-born Fernandez was reportedly employed by the soccer governing body to work as a housekeeper for the FIFA boss and his family in August 2024. Despite being on FIFA's payroll, she performed no services for the organization. However, she reportedly continued illegally working in her role and living in the Infantino household for months after the Trump administration terminated the immigration agreement that granted her permission to stay in the United States.Fernandez is then said to have secured a new work authorization under Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland Security following an intervention by a Trump adviser, documents show. Infantino allegedly tapped Carlos Cordeiro, the former US Soccer chief who served as a senior World Cup adviser to Donald Trump, to orchestrate the new work permit. FIFA President Gianni Infantino (right) reportedly enlisted the help of a Trump adviser to secure a work permit for his family's Nicaraguan housekeeper Infantino allegedly tapped Carlos Cordeiro (pictured) to orchestrate a new work permit for Yajarlin del Socorro FernandezIn January, Infantino reportedly asked Cordeiro, who in May 2025 was appointed to the White House's World Cup task force alongside Noem, to use his connections at the state department to smooth the path to getting Fernandez's new work visa approved, according to the documents. Cordeiro also allegedly first helped to secure Fernandez's right to work in the US under Infantino's orders in 2024. Fernandez was reportedly already living and working at Infantino's residence in the millionaires' row of One Thousand Museum in Miami, Florida, where David Beckham recently sold a $25million penthouse, in early 2024. However, until May 2024, she had not yet filed or received an approved work permit and was therefore working at the residence illegally, per the documents. During a January 2024 meeting at Infantino's home, Cordeiro, at the FIFA boss's request, is said to have instructed a subordinate to submit their own Miami rental address on Fernandez's immigration filing rather than that of the Infantino family home.While Fernandez's work visa was initially approved, it came to an abrupt end last year when the Department of Homeland Security terminated the Humanitarian Parole Program for Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and her native Nicaragua. On May 30, 2025, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to scrap the four-country scheme, which had permitted Fernandez and other Nicaraguans to secure permission to work in the US. Fernandez's contract with FIFA was terminated in October 2025, but she was paid a three-month salary as a bonus and remained illegally working as Infantino's housekeeper for the remainder of the year, according to the documents. Cordeiro (left) was appointed to Trump's White House's World Cup task force in 2025 Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem worked in connection with the task force In January 2026, Infantino allegedly asked Cordeiro, who was now working on the World Cup task force which operated directly out of Homeland Security, to leverage his new government contacts to secure Fernandez a new permit.That same month, Fernandez was granted a new work visa and was re-hired as a FIFA employee on a $40,000-per-year contract until August.FIFA strongly denied the allegations that it had 'employed an individual in the US without the necessary authorisation.' 'FIFA verifies the employment status of each employee and ensures compliance with U.S. immigration and employment requirements,' a FIFA spokesperson told The Daily Mail. 'Matters related to the FIFA President's personal and home life are private; however, for the avoidance of any doubt, the costs of any domestic staff are met by the FIFA President personally.'FIFA strongly condemns the publication of personal details of staff, none of whom are accused of any wrongdoing. This is a gross invasion of their privacy.The organization added: 'As FIFA stated in August, it is evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President. FIFA welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a license to amplify false allegations. Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading FIFA will continue to challenge it directly and vigorously.'Cordeiro did not immediately respond to The Daily Mail's requests for comment. The Daily Mail also reached out to the DHS for comment and to question why Fernandez was granted a new work permit but did not receive an immediate response. Infantino, who is standing for reelection in 2027, has faced months of scrutiny The bombshell report comes after months of scrutiny for Infantino, who faces reelection in 2027.Infantino faced mutiny earlier this year over his secret plans – later scrapped – to sell a stake in the World Cup to private equity investors including Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.It sparked uncertainty around Infantino's future after three confederations rejected his plan, which was then abandoned.Among them was UEFA, which said it has lost confidence in Infantino and threatened to boycott future World Cups.Cordeiro also recently quit FIFA over Infantino's commercial deals with Josh Kushner's Thrive Capital. Infantino faced further scrutiny last month when it was alleged that Infantino personally intervened to suspend USA Folarin Balogun's World Cup red card following a call with President Trump.In a saga that sparked condemnation from across the world, the striker was originally barred from the USA's last-16 match against Belgium, only for his ban to be sensationally suspended by the FIFA disciplinary committee following a protest by the White House. The New York Post claimed in October that Infantino told Trump in a call on July 1 that 'he would take care of it. One call and it was done.'FIFA did not comment on the claims at the time but pointed to a July statement from Infantino, when he insisted the decision was made by 'independent' bodies acting 'autonomously.'Despite mounting pressure over recent months, Infantino intends to stand for a fourth consecutive term next March at the FIFA Congress.