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A recently unveiled mandate for soccer tournament supporters traveling to the United States to disclose their social media account information has been called "profoundly unacceptable."

Compulsory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to submit information about online accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Previously, submitting this information was voluntary.

"These proposed measures are deeply concerning," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No football fan gives up those rights just because they enter a country."

He continued, "The measure creates a chilling atmosphere of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is supposed to embody and it must be withdrawn at once."

Roots in an Previous Executive Order

The plan stems from an presidential directive signed by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to guarantee that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the United States are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent feasible."

Official Statement and Justification

A spokesperson 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 official said. "This is not a final rule, it is simply the initial phase in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the public secure."

The representative added, "We are continuously evaluating how we vet those entering the country, especially after the terrorist attack in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the earlier Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to collect additional information from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."