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A newly proposed requirement for soccer tournament fans traveling to the US to disclose their social media account information has been called "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Submission for Visa Waiver Applicants

Under the plan, visitors from 42 countries—including the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be obliged to provide details about online accounts they have maintained in the past five years. Previously, submitting this information was optional.

"The US government's 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 football fan surrenders those rights just because they enter a country."

He added, "This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of monitoring that directly contradicts the inclusive atmosphere the tournament is meant to represent and it must be rescinded at once."

Origins in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The plan follows an executive order issued by former President Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the US are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent feasible."

Government Response and Justification

A representative for the border agency provided clarification on the matter. "This is not a change on this subject for those coming to the country," the spokesperson said. "This is not a implemented policy, it is simply the initial phase in starting a discussion to have additional measures to keep the public safe."

The representative added, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those entering the country, particularly after the recent incident in the capital. The measure is consistent 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 collect further data from non-US citizens applying through the visa waiver programme."