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A recently unveiled mandate for soccer tournament supporters journeying to the US to disclose their online account information has been branded "deeply troubling."

Compulsory Submission for Visa Waiver Applicants

Under the plan, visitors from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be required to submit details about social media accounts they have held in the past five years. Until now, providing this data was optional.

"The US government's announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, executive director 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 cross a border."

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of surveillance that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to represent and it must be withdrawn at once."

Roots in an Previous Presidential Directive

The proposal follows an executive order issued by former President Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to ensure that all aliens seeking admission the US are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree feasible."

Official Statement and Reasoning

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offered context on the matter. "This is not a change on this front for those coming to the country," the official said. "It is not a implemented policy, it is merely the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to protect the American people secure."

The representative further noted, "The department are constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, particularly after the terrorist incident in the capital. The measure 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 collect further data from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."