One of the world’s leading soccer journalists, American Grant Wahl died early Saturday in Qatar.
Wahl, who turned 48 just days earlier, was covering his eighth World Cup when he passed away.
According to his agent, Wahl “appeared to have suffered some sort of acute distress in the press room” of the stadium during the Argentina-Netherlands World Cup quarterfinal match. Paramedics tried to revive him and took him to a nearby hospital, where he died.
Qatari officials said in a statement that Wahl “received immediate medical treatment on site, which continued as he was transferred by ambulance to Hamad General Hospital.” The exact cause of death is not yet known.
Wahl developed a reputation as America’s most renowned soccer journalist over a lengthy career at Sports Illustrated. He left SI in 2021 after 24 years at the outlet, and was most recently operating his own Substack and a Spotify podcast, Futbol with Grant Wahl.
Speaking of his podcast, in an episode posted shortly before his death on Dec. 6, Wahl remarked that he had been feeling sick.
“It had gotten pretty bad in terms of like the tightness in my chest, tightness, pressure. Feeling pretty hairy, bad,” he told co-host Chris Wittyngham in the episode. He added that he sought help at the medical clinic at the World Cup media center, thinking perhaps he had bronchitis.
He was given cough syrup and Ibuprofen, and felt better shortly afterward, he added.
Known for his fearlessness, Wahl wrote about the conditions of migrant workers building soccer stadiums in Qatar. He also made headlines during the start of the World Cup by reporting that he was detained and temporarily refused entry to the Nov. 21 U.S.-Wales match because he was wearing a rainbow t-shirt in support of LGBTQ rights.
He said security staff had told him to change his shirt because “it’s not allowed,” and had taken his phone. Wahl said he was released 25 minutes later and received apologies from a FIFA representative and a senior member of the security team at the stadium.
In addition to the off-screen work, Wahl did on-air work for Fox Sports (2012-2019) and more recently CBS Sports. He was an analyst and editorial consultant on CBS Sports HQ streaming service throughout this particular World Cup, and wrote U.S. men’s national team-focused columns for CBS Sports. He was also a consultant for soccer documentaries on Paramount+.
In addition to sports news, Wahl also happens to have a national TV news connection. He was married to Dr. Celine Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor and a member of the Biden-Harris transition Covid-19 advisory board. Dr. Gounder tweeted that she was “in complete shock” and thanked Wahl’s “soccer family” and their friends for their support as the news was reported.
I am so thankful for the support of my husband @GrantWahl‘s soccer family & of so many friends who’ve reached out tonight.
I’m in complete shock. https://t.co/OB3IzOxGlE
— Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA 🇺🇦 (@celinegounder) December 10, 2022
U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price tweeted late Friday the U.S. government “is engaged with senior Qatari officials” concerning Wahl’s death.
We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Grant Wahl and send our condolences to his family, with whom we have been in close communication. We are engaged with senior Qatari officials to see to it that his family’s wishes are fulfilled as expeditiously as possible.
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) December 10, 2022
From the official U.S. Soccer account:
U.S. Soccer Statement On The Passing Of Grant Wahl: pic.twitter.com/CBp1mCK1mQ
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) December 10, 2022