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A recently unveiled mandate for soccer tournament supporters journeying to the United States to disclose their online profile details has been branded "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Submission for ESTA Applicants

Under the plan, visitors from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) would be required to submit details about online accounts they have maintained in the last five-year period. Until now, submitting this data was optional.

"The US government's announced plans are profoundly unacceptable," stated Ronan Evain, head of Football Supporters Europe. "Free speech and the right to privacy are fundamental rights. No supporter surrenders those rights just because they cross a border."

He continued, "This policy creates a chilling atmosphere of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the welcoming, open spirit the tournament is supposed to represent and it must be rescinded immediately."

Origins in an Previous Presidential Directive

The plan follows an presidential directive signed by Donald Trump in January that seeks "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the United States are thoroughly checked to the fullest extent feasible."

Government Statement and Justification

A spokesperson 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 official said. "This is not a implemented policy, it is merely the initial phase in initiating a process to have additional measures to keep the American people safe."

The spokesperson added, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those coming into the country, especially after the recent incident in Washington DC. The measure is in line with the January 2025 Executive Order to thoroughly check those who are entering this country using the visa waiver system by allowing CBP to collect additional information from foreign nationals using the visa waiver programme."