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A newly proposed requirement for World Cup fans journeying to the United States to disclose their online profile details has been branded "profoundly unacceptable."

Mandatory Disclosure for Visa Waiver Travelers

Under the plan, visitors from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to provide details about online accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, submitting this data was voluntary.

"These proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right of privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He continued, "The measure introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is supposed to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The plan stems from an presidential directive signed by Donald Trump in January that seeks "to ensure that all foreign nationals wishing to enter the US are vetted and screened to the maximum degree feasible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the issue. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the United States," the spokesperson stated. "It is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have additional measures to protect the public secure."

The representative further noted, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist attack in the capital. This new proposal is consistent with the January 2025 directive to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to gather further data from non-US citizens applying through the visa waiver programme."