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A newly proposed requirement for World Cup supporters journeying to the US to disclose personal online profile details has been called "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Submission for ESTA Travelers

According to the proposal, tourists from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to submit details about online accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Until now, submitting this information was voluntary.

"The US government's announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," said Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He continued, "The measure introduces a climate of fear of monitoring that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is supposed to represent and it must be withdrawn at once."

Origins in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The proposal follows an presidential directive signed by former President Trump in early 2025 that aims "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent feasible."

Official Statement and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided clarification on the issue. "This is not a change on this subject for those traveling to the country," the spokesperson stated. "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 safe."

The representative added, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the recent attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is in line with the earlier directive to vet those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to gather further data from foreign nationals applying through the ESTA program."