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A newly proposed mandate for soccer tournament supporters journeying to the US to disclose their social media profile details has been branded "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Submission for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to provide information about online accounts they have maintained in the past five years. Previously, providing this information was optional.

"These announced plans are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter gives up those rights just because they cross a border."

He continued, "This policy introduces a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is supposed to represent and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The proposal follows an executive order issued by former President Trump in early 2025 that aims "to guarantee that all foreign nationals seeking admission the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent feasible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A representative for the border agency provided context on the issue. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the country," the spokesperson said. "It is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in initiating a process to have new policy options to protect the American people secure."

The representative further noted, "The department are constantly looking at how we screen those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist attack in the capital. The measure is in line with the earlier directive to vet those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens using the ESTA program."