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A recently unveiled mandate for soccer tournament supporters traveling to the United States to disclose personal online profile details has been called "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Disclosure for ESTA Travelers

Under the plan, tourists from dozens of nations—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be required to provide details about online accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Previously, providing this information was optional.

"These proposed measures are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He added, "The measure introduces a climate of fear of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to embody and it must be rescinded immediately."

Roots in an Earlier Presidential Directive

The proposal follows an executive order signed by former President Trump in early 2025 that seeks "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the US are vetted and screened to the fullest extent feasible."

Government Statement and Justification

A spokesperson for the border agency offered clarification on the matter. "Nothing has changed 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 initiating a process to have new policy options to keep the public secure."

The spokesperson added, "We are constantly looking at how we vet those entering the country, especially after the recent attack in the capital. The measure is in line with the earlier Executive Order to vet those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by enabling CBP to collect further data from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."