"My feeling is boycott it. Honestly, I think the World Cup is a joke. I think Fifa giving Donald Trump a big rosette and a peace prize has undermined everything that football's about. I think the fact it's being played in a country that's threatening not to give visas to the players, to the staff, to the fans; I think it's ridiculous. I think it's a complete embarrassment."
"A former semi-professional player, Bishop made his thoughts on the tournament known (AFP via Getty Images) As a footballer, Bishop played as a midfielder for teams including Hyde United, Crewe Alexandra and Southport. The Liverpudlian comedian is the inspiration for Is This Thing On?, which is directed by Bradley Cooper and stars Will Arnett as a man who starts stand-up comedy after his marriage ends."
From 11 June to 19 July, the 2026 World Cup will be hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico. Calls have arisen to boycott the tournament following an ICE crackdown and the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. John Bishop, a former semi-professional midfielder and Liverpool fan, urged a boycott while appearing on Absolute Radio, calling the World Cup "a joke" and saying FIFA honoring Donald Trump has undermined football. Bishop criticized visa restrictions for players, staff and fans, labeled hosting in the US "a complete embarrassment," and said he will ignore the tournament.
Read at The Independent
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