Wahl covering his eighth World Cup.
Wahl covering his eighth World Cup.
Grant Wahl, one of America’s best-known soccer writers, died early Saturday while covering the World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands in Qatar. He was 48.
U. S. media sitting next to him said Wahl fell into his seat in the Lusail Iconic Stadium press box in overtime and reporters next to him called for help. Emergency service personnel reacted very quickly, reporters said, and were later told Wahl had died.
“He obtained immediate emergency medical attention at the scene, which continued as he was being transferred by ambulance to Hamad General Hospital,” the World Cup organizing committee said in a statement, which did not hint at the cause of death. “We are in contact with the U. S. Embassy and applicable local government to ensure that the framework’s repatriation procedure is in accordance with the family’s wishes. “
Wahl covering his eighth World Cup. He wrote on his online page on Monday that he had visited a medical clinic in Qatar.
“Through it all, my body collapsed in the most sensitive part of me. Three weeks of poor sleep, high altitude tension and a lot of work can do this to you,” Wahl wrote. something more serious on match night USA. I have a new point of tension and discomfort.
“I didn’t have Covid (dial here), however, today I went to the medical clinic in the main communication center and was told I probably had bronchitis. I was given a course of antibiotics and cough syrup, and I already feel a little older a few hours later. But still: Not good.
On his podcast Thursday, Wahl said he had a case of bronchitis and went to the clinic again.
“I basically canceled everything I had on Thursday, took a nap and I’m a little better than you can probably say with my voice that I’m not one hundred percent here,” he said. “I hope to do it. ” Don’t cough up this podcast. I cough a lot. Everyone coughs here in this way is not limited to me, as many hounds have a crazy cough. It infrequently feels like a moan of death.
“The only thing that surprises me is that there’s not a lot of COVID here. I think there could be a real challenge with that. We literally don’t see any cases of COVID. We only see a lot of general illnesses, coughs, colds. , and I can’t wait to be on the other side of what I have. But I will be able to go. I’m leaving on Friday. “
During the World Cup, Wahl attracted attention from abroad after saying he was briefly banned from attending the U. S. match against Wales on Nov. 21 for wearing a shirt with the rainbow colors of LGBTQIA identified as their rights. they are criminalized in Qatar, a conservative Muslim nation.
Wahl wrote that he was detained for 25 minutes at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and then released through a security commander. Wahl said FIFA apologized to him.
A 1996 Princeton graduate, Wahl worked for Sports Illustrated from 1996 to 2021, known for its school football and basketball policy. He then introduced his own website. Wahl also worked for Fox Sports from 2012 to 2019.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, an associate clinical professor at New York University School of Medicine, an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital Center and a CBS News contributor.
Gounder tweeted Friday night that she was “totally shocked” and thanked everyone for her husband.
In a tweet, U. S. men’s team captain Tyler Adams expressed his “sincerest condolences” to Gounder and “everyone who mourns the loss of Grant Wahl. “Soccer also launched on a Friday night, saying they were “heartbroken” to be informed of Wahl’s death.
State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted that the United States “engaged with senior Qatari officials to ensure that his family’s wishes are fulfilled as temporarily as possible. “
Sports Illustrated released a statement through co-editors Ryan Hunt and Stephen Cannella, who said they were “shocked and devastated by the news of Grant’s passing. “
“We were proud to call him a colleague and friend for two decades; no publisher in SI history has been more passionate about the game I enjoyed and the stories I was looking to tell,” he said. “Our mind is with Celine and her family, as well as everyone who enjoyed her work. At all times you will be part of the SI family.
Among Wahl’s paintings in Sports Illustrated, the famous canopy tale “The Chosen One” about LeBron James in 2002, when James was a junior at St. James in St. James was a junior at St. James in Illustrated. Vincent-St. Mary High in Akron, Ohio.
“He’s been great to be with. He spent a lot of time in my hometown of Akron,” James said in Philadelphia after the Los Angeles Lakers lost in overtime to the 76ers. Going back to myself as a teenager and had Grant at our construction in St. V’s. It is a tragic loss. It’s unfortunate to lose someone as big as him. I wish his circle of family well. May he rest in paradise.
A voter at FIFA’s annual awards, Wahl is one of 82 bloodhounds honored through FIFA and foreign sports press arrangement AIPS for attending 8 or more World Cups.
“Just a few days ago, Grant was recognized through FIFA and AIPS for his contribution in reporting on 8 consecutive FIFA World Cups, and his career also included participation in several FIFA Women’s World Cups, as well as a host of other sporting events abroad. “said the FIFA president. Gianni Infantino. ” His immense love for football and his reports will be missed by anyone who follows the global game. “
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