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A recently unveiled mandate for World Cup supporters traveling to the United States to disclose their online profile details has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Submission for Visa Waiver Applicants

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 submit information about online accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Until now, submitting this data was optional.

"The US government's proposed measures 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 added, "This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is supposed to embody and it must be withdrawn immediately."

Origins in an Previous Presidential Directive

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

Official Response and Justification

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this subject for those traveling to the United States," the official stated. "It is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the American people safe."

The spokesperson further noted, "We are constantly looking at how we screen those entering the country, particularly after the terrorist attack in Washington DC. The measure is consistent with the January 2025 directive to vet those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."