FIFA President Infantino’s Controversial Immigration Maneuver for Nicaraguan Housekeeper

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his inner circle sought help from the Trump administration to secure a work permit for his Nicaraguan housekeeper Yajarlin del Socorro Fernandez after her legal status was revoked by the White House. According to leaked documents, audio recordings, and sources with direct knowledge, Infantino enlisted a politically connected adviser to intervene with federal immigration officials on Fernandez’s behalf. This intervention came after FIFA continued employing Fernandez beyond the revocation of her work authorization.

An internal letter from FIFA confirms Fernandez’s employment through October 2025, despite her work authorization being revoked by the previous administration. This letter, signed by Faviana Urdaneta, FIFA’s People & Culture business partner in Miami, states Fernandez worked full-time from August 2024 to October 2025. FIFA and Infantino have not responded to detailed inquiries about Fernandez’s employment arrangement.

Fernandez managed to obtain a C11 parole work authorization under Kristi Noem’s Department of Homeland Security in January 2026, despite the Trump administration previously moving to abolish the humanitarian scheme that facilitated her employment. The process involved allegedly using an incorrect address to bypass immigration scrutiny regarding her residence.

The role in securing Fernandez’s work authorization was orchestrated by Carlos Cordeiro, former Goldman Sachs banker and senior adviser to the White House’s World Cup task force. At Infantino’s behest, Cordeiro instructed subordinates to submit their Miami rental address on Fernandez’s immigration filings instead of her actual residence, allowing her temporary work authorization before it was revoked the following year.

In May 2025, the Supreme Court backed the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the humanitarian parole scheme, leading the Department of Homeland Security to revoke related permissions. This led Fernandez to face an interview with federal immigration officers, causing panic when an allegedly false address was scrutinized. Infantino then sought Cordeiro’s assistance to leverage government contacts to help re-secure Fernandez’s authorization.

Despite warnings from internal staff, Infantino continued to employ Fernandez, risking legal issues if she were caught by ICE. Prominent immigration attorney Michael Wildes commented that the issuance of a new C11 work permit for Fernandez is unusual, indicating potential preferential treatment. This circumvents the restricted access afforded to noncitizens without privileged connections.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services typically restrict work permits to those escaping war zones or immediate family members of military personnel. The controversial situation highlights a stark irony for Infantino, who rose to his position in a bid to clean up FIFA following previous corruption scandals.

Fernandez’s residential information indicates registration to a blue-collar neighborhood in Miami, further complicating the legitimacy of the immigration filings. Infantino now faces an upcoming presidential election in 2027 amid fallout from a failed plan to privatize FIFA’s commercial operations. This proposal involved a subsidiary possibly valued at $20 billion selling minority stakes to private investors, such as Thrive Capital, yet faced fierce internal and European opposition.

FIFA’s decision to release certain documents has followed intense scrutiny and legal battles, though NDAs are expected to limit wider disclosure. This case highlights the complex interplay of sports management, immigration, and political influence at the highest levels of international soccer governance.