Renowned soccer journalist Grant Wahl has died, the U.S. Soccer Federation reported Friday. Wahl, 49, was in Qatar protecting the World Cup when he handed away.
Wahl’s agent, Tim Scanlan, stated that the journalist “appeared to have suffered some sort of acute distress in the press room” of the stadium throughout the quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands, when the 2 groups started enjoying in further time. Paramedics had been known as to the scene, Scanlan stated, however had been unable to revive him.
Qatari officers stated in a press release that Wahl “received immediate medical treatment on site, which continued as he was transferred by ambulance to Hamad General Hospital.” The actual explanation for dying isn’t but identified.
Wahl had been tweeting throughout the match, which was a part of the eighth World Cup he had coated.
“The entire U.S. soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl,” the U.S. Soccer Federation stated in a press release Friday evening. “Fans of soccer and journalism of the highest quality knew we could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game, and its major protagonists.”
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Wahl spoke about his well being on his Spotify podcast Thursday, saying that he had contracted bronchitis whereas protecting the World Cup.
“I took some time off here myself,” Wahl advised listeners. “We had two days off here without games. Seventeen straight days of games and my body, I think, told me, even when the U.S. went out, ‘Dude, you are not sleeping enough,’ and it rebelled on me. So I’ve had a case of bronchitis this week. I’ve been to the medical center at the clinic twice now, including today. I am feeling better today. I basically cancelled everything on this Thursday that I had, and I napped, and I am doing slightly better. You can probably tell by my voice that I am not doing 100% here.”
Scanlan advised CBS News that Wahl had an “aggressive schedule” whereas in Qatar.
“I asked, ‘Was it too much?’ and he said no, this is what he lived for, and he loved the World Cup,” Scanlan stated, referencing a dialog on Dec. 3, a few week earlier than Wahl’s dying. “He had just been recognized for his eighth World Cup. He had turned 48 yesterday. He was a noted chef and loved to entertain. Twenty good friends that came to his apartment last night to celebrate.”
A prolific journalist, Wahl wrote for a number of retailers and was a CBS Sports contributor. He was an analyst on CBS Sports HQ all through the Qatar World Cup, and wrote visitor columns targeted on the U.S. males’s nationwide crew for CBS Sports. He was additionally an editorial marketing consultant for soccer documentaries on Paramount+.
Wahl was additionally married to Dr. Celine Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor. Gounder tweeted that she was “in complete shock” and thanked Wahl’s “soccer family” and their buddies for his or her help because the news was reported.
Ned Price, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated that the company was in communication with officers in Qatar.
“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,” Price tweeted. “We are engaged with senior Qatari officials to see to it that his family’s wishes are fulfilled as expeditiously as possible.”
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber tweeted: “We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken over the tragic passing of Grant Wahl. He was a kind and caring person whose passion for soccer and dedication to journalism were immeasurable.”
Editor’s observe: An earlier model of this story used an incorrect age for Grant Wahl and has been up to date to appropriate his age.