Football fans around the world are getting ready for this year’s FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
However, for international supporters planning to travel to the US to watch a match in person, preparation for such a trip might go beyond packing your country’s shirt or scouting out restaurants to eat at while across the Pond.
In December, it was announced all overseas travellers may soon be required to make every post they’ve made on social media in the last five years open to scrutiny, with any hint of anti-American sentiment likely to land them in hot water with officials.
There’s also a fear that fans might actually have to allow security officials to look through their phones after touching down in America.
Concerns over such checks grew last March after a French scientist was denied entry to the country when border agents searched his phone. French officials later accused US authorities of turning the scientist away over messages that criticised President Trump’s policies.
Although US officials have rejected claims that politics influence the decision for entry, it does raise pressing questions for travellers.
Are such searches even legal? In short, yes, as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has the power to inspect all phones, laptops and other electronic devices under an exception to the Fourth Amendment.
According to CBP, as reported by the New York Times, the agency carried out 55,318 electronic device searches in the fiscal year 2025 – a rise on previous years but still only about 0.01 percent of the nearly 420 million travellers who crossed US borders by air, land and sea.
Even so, football fans face the possibility that their personal devices could be searched on entry this summer.
And any evidence of criminal conduct or being deemed to pose a national security threat could lead to arrest, deportation – and the loss of flights, accommodation and match tickets.
We asked three security and travel experts to recommend steps that could help to ensure you don’t face a harrowing time going through immigration. Read on to discover how to get your phone ready for inspection, should you be asked…
Three travel experts have shared their top tips for football fans heading to the U.S. for the World Cup on how they can protect their private data and prepare their phones for entry
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) carried out 55,318 electronic device searches in fiscal year 2025
Step 1: Cut down what’s on your phone
Before flying, travellers should remove what is physically stored on their phones and remove sensitive or unnecessary files, as border checks focus on data stored locally.
Deleting everything or using a ‘burner’ device can also raise suspicion, so the aim is reduction, not complete erasure.
Step 2: Back up your phone before travelling
Important photos, documents and contacts should be backed up to the cloud or another device.
This protects personal data if a phone is held temporarily and keeps most content out of scope during inspections.
Christian Petzold of CityTrip Travel notes that this step protects travellers while keeping the entry process moving smoothly.
Step 3: Set up a strong passcode
Travellers should prep their phones by first removing what is stored on their devices and remove sensitive or unnecessary files, before backing up important photos, documents and contacts
Using a strong passcode rather than facial or fingerprint unlocking gives greater control over access during checks – and avoids accidental unlocking.
Jasper Adams, Chief Executive Officer at Team Fusion said: ‘A robust PIN or password gives you more control over access during inspection.
‘Customs and Border Protection may request that a device be unlocked to facilitate a search, and a manual passcode avoids inadvertent access via facial or fingerprint recognition.’
Step 4: Travel with a clean set up
Signing out of work emails, removing banking apps and clearing downloads days before departure leaves only essential travel content on the device.
According to Lorena Basualdo, luxury travel advisor and co-founder of ItalianTourism.us, planning this in advance avoids last-minute changes that can cause concern.
She advised: ‘Travel with a deliberately ‘clean’ device plan.
‘A few days before you fly, make a full backup, then sign out of cloud email and drive apps, remove banking and work apps, clear downloads and saved media, and delete old chat attachments so only what you truly need is stored locally.’
Using a strong passcode gives greater control over access during checks, while facial recognition or fingerprint methods could accidentally unlock the phone
Step 5: Switch to Airplane Mode
Placing the phone in airplane mode ensures only locally stored data is visible if a device is examined.
This prevents cloud content from loading during an inspection.
Basualdo said: ‘During any inspection, switching to flight mode or disabling data limits cloud content from loading while still allowing officers to view the minimal, travel‑only material you prepared.’
Step 6: Get to know the rules
Search powers vary by country. In the US, authorities can conduct basic device searches without a warrant and, in some cases, use advanced tools.
Basualdo explained: ‘US CBP can conduct basic searches and may retain copied data, Canada applies a defined legal threshold while still requiring access when asked.
‘And the UK, Australia and New Zealand have powers that include examination and, in some cases, penalties for refusal so plan to comply and minimise exposure.’
In the U.S., officials have the power to conduct basic device searches without a warrant and, in some cases, use advanced tools, so it’s important for travellers to know the rules before flying
Adams further stressed the importance of understanding the difference between basic and advanced searches when entering the U.S.
He explained: ‘CBP distinguishes between ‘basic’ searches (manual review of content on the device) and ‘advanced’ searches (using external equipment to analyse or copy data).
‘Knowing this helps travellers understand the potential scope of an inspection and why minimising stored data matters.’
Petzold added: ‘A bit of homework on the country you are visiting and knowing what the limits are regarding the documents and information you have to provide will help lessen your anxiety and give you a smoother entry experience, which is of paramount importance during high-traffic events like the World Cup.’
Step 7: Keep phones charged and accessible
Travellers should arrive with their phone fully charged and easy to access, along with a charging cable.
Football fans should note that a powered-down or inaccessible device can also potentially cause delays during busy entry periods such as the World Cup.
Petzold said: ‘Have your phone charged up completely and positioned for easy access, also, don’t have several accounts or applications working that could lead to miscommunication during the inspection.’
Football fans should keep their phones charged and accessible to avoid delays, and to stay calm and polite when and if their devices are inspected
Step 8: Stay calm and be polite
Maintaining a polite, professional demeanor and answering questions directly helps avoid unnecessary complications.
Experts encourage travellers to answer questions directly, and advise against making sudden changes to the device during inspection, as this can lead to suspicion and delays.
Basualdo said: ‘Stay courteous, answer narrowly, and if asked to unlock, provide access only to the clean profile or device, which keeps your journey moving while keeping most of your personal life out of scope.’
