Grant Wahl, renowned soccer journalist, dies at age 49 at Qatar World Cup

Famend soccer journalist Grant Wahl has died, the U.S. Soccer Federation reported Friday. Wahl, 49, was in Qatar masking the World Cup when he handed away.

Wahl’s agent, Tim Scanlan, mentioned that the journalist “appeared to have suffered some kind of acute misery within the press room” of the stadium in the course of the quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands, when the 2 groups started taking part in in further time. Paramedics had been referred to as to the scene, Scanlan mentioned, however had been unable to revive him. 

Qatari officers mentioned in an announcement that Wahl “acquired instant medical therapy on website, which continued as he was transferred by ambulance to Hamad Basic Hospital.” The precise explanation for demise will not be but recognized. 

Wahl had been tweeting in the course of the match, which was a part of the eighth World Cup he had lined.    

“All the U.S. soccer household is heartbroken to study that we have now misplaced Grant Wahl,” the U.S. Soccer Federation said in a statement Friday evening. “Followers of soccer and journalism of the very best high quality knew we might all the time rely on Grant to ship insightful and entertaining tales about our recreation, and its main protagonists.”

Wahl spoke about his well being on his Spotify podcast Thursday, saying that he had contracted bronchitis whereas masking the World Cup. 

“I took a while off right here myself,” Wahl instructed listeners. “We had two days off right here with out video games. Seventeen straight days of video games and my physique, I believe, instructed me, even when the U.S. went out, ‘Dude, you aren’t sleeping sufficient,’ and it rebelled on me. So I’ve had a case of bronchitis this week. I have been to the medical heart on the clinic twice now, together with at this time. I’m feeling higher at this time. I mainly cancelled all the things on this Thursday that I had, and I napped, and I’m doing barely higher. You possibly can in all probability inform by my voice that I’m not doing 100% right here.” 

Scanlan instructed CBS Information that Wahl had an “aggressive schedule” whereas in Qatar. 

“I requested, ‘Was it an excessive amount of?’ and he mentioned no, that is what he lived for, and he beloved the World Cup,” Scanlan mentioned, referencing a dialog on Dec. 3, a couple of week earlier than Wahl’s demise. “He had simply been acknowledged for his eighth World Cup. He had turned 48 yesterday. He was a famous chef and beloved to entertain. Twenty good associates that got here to his condo final evening to have a good time.” 

A prolific journalist, Wahl wrote for a number of shops and was a CBS Sports activities contributor. He was an analyst on CBS Sports activities HQ all through the Qatar World Cup, and wrote visitor columns targeted on the U.S. males’s nationwide staff for CBS Sports activities. He was additionally an editorial marketing consultant for soccer documentaries on Paramount+. 

Wahl was additionally married to Dr. Celine Gounder, a CBS Information medical contributor. Gounder tweeted that she was “in full shock” and thanked Wahl’s “soccer household” and their associates for his or her assist because the information was reported. 

Ned Worth, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Division, mentioned that the company was in communication with officers in Qatar. 

“We had been deeply saddened to study of the demise of Grant Wahl and ship our condolences to his household, with whom we have now been in shut communication,” Worth tweeted. “We’re engaged with senior Qatari officers to see to it that his household’s needs are fulfilled as expeditiously as attainable.”

Main League Soccer commissioner Don Garber tweeted: “We’re shocked, saddened and heartbroken over the tragic passing of Grant Wahl. He was a sort and caring particular person whose ardour for soccer and dedication to journalism had been immeasurable.”

Previous to Saturday’s quarterfinal match between England and France, FIFA paid tribute to Wahl on the video screens of Al Bayt Stadium.

“Via his work, Grant shared his love of soccer with thousands and thousands,” the stadium’s public tackle announcer mentioned in an announcement. “FIFA and the world of soccer expresses honest condolences to his spouse Céline, his household and associates at this most tough time.”

Flowers and a photograph of Wahl had been positioned at what would have been his designated press seat for the match, which was left empty. 

Editor’s notice: An earlier model of this story used an incorrect age for Grant Wahl and has been up to date to right his age.