A few days ago, Grant Wahl smiled at the camera next to veteran Ronaldo, holding a golden miniature of the World Cup. Along with other journalists, the American was honored at the World Cup in Qatar for reporting on his eighth World Cup finals. His death on Saturday night shocked the football world, Wahl had collapsed during the quarter-finals between Argentina and the Netherlands in the Lusail Stadium media stand.
His wife Celine Gounder wrote on Twitter that she was in shock. The US Football Association said on its Twitter account: “The entire US football family is heartbroken to learn of the loss of Grant Wahl.”
As journalists from the German Press Agency reported, Wahl was quickly taken care of in the stands by rescue workers, who began life-saving measures. According to the World Cup organizing committee, these were continued on the journey to Hamad General Hospital, and during the night the news came that Wahl had died at the age of 48. The journalist himself had written on the Internet in the past few days that he was in poor health.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price wrote on Twitter that the government was deeply saddened to learn of Wahl’s death. “We are working with senior Qatari officials to ensure his family’s wishes are met as expeditiously as possible.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino issued a statement of condolences, saying he reacted to the news with “disbelief and great sadness”. “His love of football was immense,” Infantino wrote of Wahl.
Shortly before his death, Wahl was diagnosed with bronchitis
Wahl had reported in detail about the World Cup and his experiences in the past few days. According to the AP news agency, he wrote on Monday that he had been in a hospital because his body had failed him. “Three weeks with little sleep, a lot of stress and a lot of work can do that to you,” Wahl wrote. He didn’t have Covid. In the hospital he was told that he was probably suffering from bronchitis. “They gave me an antibiotic and a strong cough syrup and a few hours later I’m feeling a little better. But still: not well.” Choice had among other things for Sports Illustrated and the broadcaster CBS, he reported from Qatar on his own website.
The well-known author tweeted on Friday evening shortly before extra time about the Dutch team’s 2-2 equaliser: “An unbelievable goal from a set piece.” The Argentines finally prevailed 4-3 on penalties.
Wahl said he was detained by security forces for 25 minutes ahead of the USA-Wales preliminary round match on November 21 for wearing a rainbow-colored T-shirt to show his support for the LGBTQI* community. LGBT is the English abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Each letter represents one’s gender identity or sexual orientation. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and punishable by up to seven years in prison.
