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A newly proposed mandate for World Cup fans journeying to the United States to hand over their online account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Submission for Visa Waiver Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to provide information about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Previously, providing this information was voluntary.

"These announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," said Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right of privacy are universal human rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "The measure creates a climate of fear of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is meant to represent and it must be rescinded immediately."

Roots in an Previous Presidential Directive

The plan follows an executive order issued by Donald Trump in early 2025 that aims "to guarantee that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the maximum degree feasible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered clarification on the matter. "Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States," the spokesperson said. "This is not a implemented policy, it is merely the initial phase in starting a discussion to have additional measures to keep the public secure."

The representative further noted, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the recent incident in Washington DC. The measure is in line with the January 2025 Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to gather additional information from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."