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A newly proposed requirement for World Cup fans journeying to the US to hand over personal online profile details has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers

Under the plan, visitors from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to provide details about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Previously, submitting this information was optional.

"These proposed measures are deeply concerning," said 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 added, "The measure introduces a climate of fear of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is meant to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Roots in an Previous Executive Order

The plan stems from an executive order signed by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to guarantee that all foreign nationals seeking admission the US are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A representative for the border agency provided context on the matter. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the country," the spokesperson said. "It is not a implemented policy, it is simply the first step in initiating a process to have additional measures to protect the public secure."

The spokesperson added, "We are constantly looking at how we screen those coming into the country, especially after the recent attack in Washington DC. This new proposal is consistent with the earlier Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to gather further data from foreign nationals applying through the ESTA program."