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A newly proposed requirement for soccer tournament supporters traveling to the United States to hand over personal social media account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Submission for Visa Waiver Applicants

Under the plan, tourists 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 last five-year period. Until now, submitting this data was voluntary.

"The US government's announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right of privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "This policy introduces a climate of fear of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to embody and it must be rescinded immediately."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The proposal follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump in January that seeks "to guarantee that all aliens seeking admission the United States are vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible."

Government Statement and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided clarification on the matter. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the country," the spokesperson said. "This is not a implemented policy, it is merely the first step in starting a discussion to have additional measures to protect the public secure."

The representative added, "The department are continuously evaluating how we vet those entering the country, especially after the recent incident in Washington DC. The measure is consistent with the January 2025 directive to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect further data from foreign nationals applying through the ESTA program."