Grant Wahl, well-known soccer writer in the U.S, died early Saturday while covering the World Cup match. Check out his cause of death.
Grant Wahl : Died | cause of death | How did die
Wahl was an American sports journalist and soccer analyst for CBS Sports, who was best known for having been a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and a correspondent for Fox Sports.
| Born | December 8, 1974 Mission, Kansas, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died | December 10, 2022 (aged 48) Lusail, Qatar |
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Alma mater |
Princeton University |
| Genre | Sports journalism |
| Years active | 1990s–2022 |
He was also the author of the book The Beckham Experiment (2009).
His Sports Illustrated career mainly focused on college basketball and soccer in the United States.
Wahl ran for the FIFA presidency in 2011, but withdrew his campaign after failing to receive an endorsement from a football association. He left Sports Illustrated in 2020 and founded his own Substack newsletter.
Grant Wahl died
Grant Wahl, one of the most well-known soccer writers in the United States, died early Saturday while covering the World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands. He was 49.
US media seated near him said Wahl fell back in his seat in the press box at Lusail Iconic Stadium during extra time and reporters adjacent to him called for assistance.
Emergency services workers responded very quickly, the reporters said, and they were later were told that Wahl had died.
Wahl was covering his eighth World Cup. He wrote Monday on his website that he had visited a medical clinic in Qatar.
“My body finally broke down on me. Three weeks of little sleep, high stress and lots of work can do that to you,” Wahl wrote. “What had been a cold over the last 10 days turned into something more severe on the night of the USA-Netherlands game, and I could feel my upper chest take on a new level of pressure and discomfort.
“I didn’t have Covid (I test regularly here), but I went into the medical clinic at the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis.
They gave me a course of antibiotics and some heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit better just a few hours later. But still: No bueno.”
On his podcast Thursday, Wahl said he had a case of bronchitis and visited the medical clinic again.
Grant Wahl cause of death
Legendary US football writer Grant Wahl has died in Qatar while reporting on the World Cup, with his brother Eric Wahl alleging “I believe he was killed” following a protest in support of the marginalised LGBTI community.
The veteran reporter was covering Argentina’s chaotic quarter-final win over the Netherlands when he collapsed.
He was rushed to hospital but passed away, two days after his 48th birthday. The news was announced by his brother and confirmed by the US Soccer Association and NPR.
It comes after Wahl was detained for nearly half an hour ahead of the USA’s opening match of the tournament against Wales.
Wahl was barred entry as security guards demanded he remove a shirt showing a soccer ball surrounded by a rainbow.
The renowned author and former Sports Illustrated reporter, highly regarded for his work in American soccer, was eventually let into the match after a harrowing ordeal where he claims he was verbally abused by security staff and had his phone ripped from his hand.
Wahl’s brother Eric announced the tragic news in a heartbreaking video where he stated he believes the journalist’s death was not accidental.
“My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I’m gay,” he said in an Instagram video.
Although an official cause of death has not been shared, Wahl wrote that he had been suffering from a “severe” illness that required him to visit a medical clinic in Qatar.
How did die
Soccer analyst Grant Wahl died in Qatar while covering a World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands on Friday, just days after his 48th birthday.
Wahl’s wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, confirmed his death Friday night on Twitter, writing she was in “complete shock.” Gounder also expressed gratitude for support from the “soccer family & of so many friends who’ve reached out tonight.”
Also Wahl, a sports journalist for CBS Sports and author of the GrantWahl Substack column, had covered eight men’s World Cup tournaments.
U.S. media seated near him said Wahl fell back in his seat in a section of Lusail Iconic Stadium reserved for journalists during extra time of the game, and reporters adjacent to him called for assistance.
Emergency services workers responded very quickly, the reporters said, and the reporters later were told that Wahl had died.
“He received immediate emergency medical treatment on site, which continued as he was transferred by ambulance to Hamad General Hospital,” the World Cup organizing committee said in a statement, which did not list a cause of death. “We are in touch with the US Embassy and relevant local authorities to ensure the process of repatriating the body is in accordance with the family’s wishes.”
Although an official cause of death has not been shared, Wahl wrote that he had been suffering from a “severe” illness that required him to visit a medical clinic in Qatar.