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

Mandatory Submission for ESTA Applicants

According to the proposal, visitors from dozens of nations—including the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be obliged to submit details about social media accounts they have maintained in the past five years. Previously, providing this data was optional.

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

He continued, "The measure creates a climate of fear of surveillance that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is supposed to embody and it must be withdrawn at once."

Roots in an Previous Presidential Directive

The plan stems from an presidential directive issued by Donald Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the United States are vetted and screened to the fullest extent possible."

Official Response and Reasoning

A spokesperson for the border agency offered context on the matter. "This is not a change on this subject for those coming to the country," the spokesperson stated. "It is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the American people secure."

The representative further noted, "We are continuously evaluating how we vet those entering the country, especially after the recent incident in the capital. This new proposal is in line with the January 2025 directive to thoroughly check those who are coming into this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to gather additional information from foreign nationals using the ESTA program."