Tributes poured in for Grant Wahl before the France versus England match after news of his passing was confirmed.
The death of Grant Wahl sent shockwaves through the sports world. The prominent American journalist, recognized for his work during the Qatar World Cup 2022, died early Saturday local time following an incident during the Argentina versus Netherlands match.
Wahl was a vocal advocate for American sports media and a critic of the World Cup organization. His passing struck a heavy blow to the industry while he was in Doha for coverage.
The journalist’s brother, Eric Wahl, traveled to Qatar to retrieve Grant’s body and oversee the return to the United States for an autopsy to establish the precise cause of death.
Goal provides a detailed look at Wahl, the circumstances surrounding his death, and the tributes that followed Qatar 2022.
WHO WAS GRANT WAHL?
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Wahl stood among the leading figures in United States sports journalism. His career began with The Miami Herald, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar marked his eighth summit of the tournament, earning him recognition from FIFA, including an acknowledgement from Cristiano Ronaldo.
New updates from World Cup Daily spoke about a morning gathering of veteran World Cup journalists and a surprise visit from Ronaldo, as Wahl shared moments from the tournament on social media.
Wahl later contributed to Sports Illustrated and worked with outlets such as FOX Sports, CBS Sports, and NBC News. He also helped produce the documentary Good Rivals, which explored the Mexico–United States rivalry at the national team level and is available on a major streaming platform.
He had once attempted to run for FIFA presidency in 2011 against Sepp Blatter and Mohamed bin Hammam, though his bid did not gain broad backing from member associations.
In a show of support for his brother and LGBTQ+ rights, Wahl wore a rainbow shirt, which led to temporary detention and a ban from the United States’ opening match against Wales. He continued to express his views on the Qatar situation from the press room, confronting restrictions tied to local norms.
Messages from the time of the incident included a social post from Wahl about his health concerns during the World Cup and his reflections on a night of limited sleep, stress, and a heavy workload that may have contributed to his condition.
He later posted about a clinic visit where doctors suggested bronchitis and provided antibiotics and cough syrup, noting that he felt better for a period but remained unwell overall.
Eric Wahl traveled to examine the body, coordinate the transfer back to the United States, and request an autopsy. He suggested that a pulmonary embolism could have played a role, although the overall health decline prevented resuscitation with a defibrillator in the stadium setting.
Eric also described that FIFA medical teams indicated the presence of defibrillators in the venues, but he felt the handling of Grant’s case left room for concern and scrutiny.
Later statements echoed the possibility of a pulmonary embolism and noted that Wahl may have been in a non-shockable state when medical teams worked to save him.
Eric Wahl shared updates on social media, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the events and the medical response in the stadium.
THE TRIBUTE
Tributes from FIFA and fellow professionals followed Wahl’s passing. Flowers and a portrait were placed at a desk used during the England versus France match coverage, honoring the American journalist who had celebrated his birthday days earlier. Observers highlighted Wahl’s impact on the sport and his commitment to reporting the human side of football.
Colleagues and fans expressed condolences and recognized Wahl’s influence as a storyteller who leveraged sport to discuss human rights and social issues. His contributions to journalism and documentary work were commemorated as part of his lasting legacy in the world of sports media.
Additional reflections emphasized Wahl’s role in shaping conversations around football coverage in the United States and his dedication to informing the public with thoughtful, engaging reporting.
Enduring coverage and reflection published by outlets and colleagues continued to remember Wahl as a force in sports journalism who helped illuminate the people behind the games.
Note: Correspondents and outlets paid tribute to Wahl while recounting the events surrounding his last World Cup appearance and the ongoing dialogue about safety and media rights at major tournaments.