Renowned soccer journalist Grant Wahl has died, the US Soccer Federation reported Friday. Wahl, 49, was in Qatar covering the World Cup when he died.
Wahl’s agent, Tim Scanlan, said the reporter “appeared to have suffered some type of acute distress in the press room” at the stadium during the quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands, when the two teams started playing in extra time. Paramedics were called to the scene, Scanlan said, but were unable to revive him.
Qatari officials said in a statement that Wahl “received immediate medical treatment at the scene, which continued until he was taken by ambulance to Hamad General Hospital.” The exact cause of death is not yet known.
Wahl had been tweeting during the match, which was part of the eighth World Cup he had covered.
“The entire US soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl,” the US Soccer Federation said. said in a statement Friday night. “Soccer fans and top-quality journalism knew we could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game and its main players.”
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Wahl discussed his health on his Spotify podcast on Thursday, saying he had contracted bronchitis while covering the World Cup.
“I took some time off here,” Wahl told listeners. “We had two days off here with no games. Seventeen straight days of games and I think my body told me, even when America came out, ‘Dude, you’re not getting enough sleep,’ and it rebelled against me. So I had a case of bronchitis this week. I’ve been to the clinic’s medical center twice, including today. I feel better today. I basically canceled everything I had this Thursday, and took a nap, and I’m a little better. You can probably tell by my voice that I’m not 100% here.”
Scanlan told CBS News that Wahl was on an “aggressive schedule” while in Qatar.
“I asked him: ‘Was it too much?’ and he said no, he lived for this and he loved the World Cup,” Scanlan said, referring to a conversation on December 3, about a week before Wahl’s death. “He had just been recognized for his eighth World Cup. He turned 48 yesterday. He was an outstanding chef and loved to entertain. Twenty good friends who came to his apartment last night to celebrate.”
A prolific journalist, Wahl wrote for multiple outlets and was a contributor to CBS Sports. He was an analyst at CBS Sports HQ during the World Cup in Qatar and wrote guest columns focusing on the US Men’s National Team for CBS Sports. He was also an editorial consultant for soccer documentaries at Paramount +.
Wahl was also married to Dr. Celine Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor. gounder tweeted that she was “completely shocked” and thanked Wahl’s “football family” and friends for their support when the news broke.
Ned Price, a spokesman for the US State Department, said the agency was in communication with officials 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 said. tweeted. “We are engaged with senior Qatari officials to ensure that his family’s wishes are carried out as quickly as possible.”
Commissioner of Major League Soccer Don Garber tweeted: “We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken by 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 Note: An earlier version of this story used an incorrect age for Grant Wahl and has been updated to correct his age.
