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A newly proposed requirement for World Cup fans journeying to the United States to hand over personal social media profile details has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Submission for Visa Waiver Travelers

According to the proposal, tourists from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to provide details about online accounts they have maintained in the past five years. Previously, submitting this data was optional.

"The US government's announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right of privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter gives up those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "The measure creates a climate of fear of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is supposed to embody and it must be rescinded immediately."

Origins in an Previous Presidential Directive

The plan follows an executive order issued by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to ensure that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the US are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree possible."

Official Statement and Justification

A representative for the border agency offered clarification on the issue. "This is not a change on this front for those coming to the country," the spokesperson stated. "It is not a final rule, it is simply the initial phase in initiating a process to have new policy options to protect the public secure."

The representative further noted, "The department are continuously evaluating how we screen those coming into the country, especially after the recent incident in the capital. The measure is consistent with the January 2025 Executive Order to vet those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."