Former President Trump's Proposed Plan for FIFA World Cup Visitors to Reveal Social Media Activity Labeled as 'Chilling'

A recently unveiled requirement for soccer tournament supporters traveling to the United States to hand over their online profile details has been branded "deeply troubling."

Mandatory Submission for Visa Waiver Travelers

Under the plan, tourists from 42 countries—such as the UK—who use the visa waiver program would be obliged to submit details about social media accounts they have held in the last five-year period. Previously, submitting this data was optional.

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

He added, "This policy creates a climate of fear of monitoring that fundamentally opposes the inclusive atmosphere the World Cup is meant to embody and it must be rescinded at once."

Origins in an Earlier Executive Order

The plan stems from an executive order signed by former President Trump in early 2025 that aims "to ensure that all foreign nationals seeking admission the US are thoroughly checked to the maximum degree possible."

Official Statement and Reasoning

A representative for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided clarification on the issue. "This is not a change on this front for those traveling to the country," the spokesperson said. "This is not a final rule, it is merely the initial phase in initiating a process to have additional measures to keep the American people secure."

The spokesperson added, "We are continuously evaluating how we screen those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist incident in the capital. The measure is consistent with the earlier directive to vet those who are entering this country using ESTA by enabling CBP to collect additional information from non-US citizens applying through the ESTA program."