Grant Wahl, a soccer journalist, died at the age of 49 while covering the World Cup in Qatar. Let’s see what exactly happened to him and Grant Wahl cause of death in detail.
Update: Wahl cause of death
| According to Grant Wahl’s wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, an autopsy performed by the New York City medical examiner revealed that the American soccer journalist passed away from a “slowly growing expanding, undetected” ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium. |
What happened to Grant Wahl?
Grant Wahl, a well-known sports journalist, and CBS Sports soccer analyst died early Saturday morning while covering the World Cup in Qatar. He was 49.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Wahl collapsed in the media tribune during Argentina’s World Cup quarterfinal match against the Netherlands and was treated by paramedics for 30 minutes before being brought to the hospital.
In a painful Instagram video and comment, Eric Wahl explains that Grant “collapsed at the stadium, was given CPR, was taken by Uber to hospital and died.”
Wahl added, “I do not believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed.”
Full Instagram post: https://t.co/rShEzWvA2q pic.twitter.com/fRKVcdfbk4
— Prime Time Sports Talk (@TalkPrimeTime) December 10, 2022
Grant Wahl cause of death
Eric’s brother suspects Foul Play
Wahl, who had run his own Substack after a long career at Sports Illustrated, fell at Lusail Iconic Stadium on Friday and was evacuated to a local hospital while reporting Argentina’s quarterfinal triumph over the Netherlands. It is unclear whether he died in the hospital or while being transported. Eric, his brother, suspects foul play on the part of the Qatari government.
Death Threats to Grant Wahl’s Brother“My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I’m gay,” he said in a video posted to his Instagram account. “I’m the reason he wore the rainbow shirt to the World Cup. My brother was healthy. He told me he received death threats. I do not believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed. And I just beg for any help.” |
Wahl was initially denied entry to Ahmad bin Ali Stadium and detained for 30 minutes before the USMNT’s World Cup match versus Wales because he was wearing a shirt portraying a soccer ball encircled by a rainbow. He was eventually allowed to enter the stadium.
Is he murdered in Qatar?
Despite their initial promises, the Qatari government cracked down on pro-LGBTQ protests during the tournament. In addition to his rainbow-themed clothing, Wahl has been a vocal critic of the Qatari government and its World Cup hosting.
He wrote on Thursday, “They just don’t care.” “In a piece on his Substack, Qatari World Cup organizers don’t even hide their apathy for migrant labor deaths, including the most recent one.”
“We’re still trying to figure it out,” Eric added. “He fainted at the stadium, was given CPR, was transported to the hospital by Uber, and died,” Celine said. We just got off the phone with the State Department, and Celine has already spoken with Ron Klain and the White House.” Just the day before, Wahl disclosed that he was suffering from bronchitis and was feeling under the weather.
Absolutely bone chilling stuff
Soccer journalist Grant Wahl who was kicked out of a stadium in QATAR for this shirt has reportedly collapsed and passed away during the Argentina game today
His brother says on Instagram that Grant was fully healthy & believes there’s foul play pic.twitter.com/t47C2XfuVl
— JACK SETTLEMAN (@jacksettleman) December 10, 2022
Wahl’s Final post
“I think my body warned me, even after the US was out, ‘guy, you’re not sleeping enough.’ It rebelled on me,” Wahl said on Thursday’s episode of his podcast, “Futbol with Grant Wahl.” “I’ve had bronchitis this week, and I’ve been to the media center’s medical clinic twice, including today.” I’m feeling better today since I canceled everything I had planned on Thursday and napped instead. And I’m getting a little better. “I guess you can tell by my voice that I’m not at my best.” |
Recent Controversy on Wahl’s Rainbow Shirt
“Change Shirt. It’s Not Allowed,” says a World Cup journalist.
FIFA World Cup 2022: According to sports journalist Grant Wahl, World Cup security refused him access to the United States opening versus Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and requested him to remove his shirt.
A US journalist said he was briefly held on Monday when attempting to enter a World Cup stadium in Qatar while wearing a rainbow jersey in solidarity with the LGBTQ community in a country where same-sex relationships are prohibited.
According to Grant Wahl, a former Sports Illustrated journalist who now runs his website, World Cup security refused him access to the United States opening match versus Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and asked him to remove his shirt.
He claimed that when he tweeted about the incident, his phone was taken away. “I’m fine, but that was an unnecessary ordeal,” Wahl tweeted.
I’m OK, but that was an unnecessary ordeal. Am in the media center, still wearing my shirt. Was detained for nearly half an hour. Go gays 🌈 https://t.co/S3INBoCz89
— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) November 21, 2022
He claimed that a security officer eventually contacted him, apologized, and let him into the venue. According to him, he later received an apology from a representative of FIFA, soccer’s international governing organization.
FIFA has been approached for comment by Reuters. After FIFA threatened to award yellow cards to any player wearing the multi-colored armband, which was created to represent diversity and inclusion, seven European World Cup countries dropped plans for their respective captains to wear OneLove armbands earlier on Monday.
Wahl’s wife Céline R. Gounder’s tweet
Wahl was married to Céline R. Gounder, an American infectious disease physician who worked on President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 Advisory Board transition team. Wahl was tweeting game updates during the game. His most recent tweet occurred at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Following the news, his wife also tweeted.
“I am so grateful for the support of my husband’s soccer family and so many friends who’ve contacted out tonight,” Gounder wrote on Twitter. “I’m completely taken aback.”
Wahl, a native of Mission, Kan., attended Princeton University. In addition to his work at Sports Illustrated, he was a CBS Sports and Fox Sports soccer correspondent and analyst, and he wrote the book “The Beckham Experiment.”
“The whole US soccer family is heartbroken to learn of Grant Wahl’s passing,” US Soccer said in a statement. “Fans of soccer and high-quality journalism knew they could always count on Grant to bring intelligent and entertaining pieces about our game and its primary protagonists: teams, players, coaches, and the many characters that distinguish soccer from other sports.”
Grant’s enthusiasm for soccer and commitment to raising its profile across our athletic scene helped to build interest in and respect for our beautiful game in the United States.
I am so thankful for the support of my husband @GrantWahl's soccer family & of so many friends who've reached out tonight.
I'm in complete shock. https://t.co/OB3IzOxGlE
— Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA 🇺🇦 (@celinegounder) December 10, 2022
“Most importantly, Grant’s confidence in the ability of sports to enhance human rights was and continues to be an inspiration to all.”
Grant dedicated his life to soccer, and we are heartbroken that he and his excellent writing will no longer be with us. “U.S. Soccer extends its heartfelt condolences to Grant’s wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, and all of his family members, friends, and media colleagues.
And we applaud Grant for his unwavering commitment to and influence on our game in the United States. His writing and the stories he recounted will be remembered.”
Who was Grant Wahl?
Wahl is a well-known American sports journalist who is currently employed as a soccer analyst for CBS Sports. Wahl worked as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and a journalist for Fox Sports before joining CBS Sports. Along with it, he wrote the ebook “The Beckham Experiment” (2009).
Early Life
Wahl was born in the Kansas town of Mission. During his first year at Princeton, he covered the Princeton Tigers men’s soccer team, which was then coached by Bob Bradley, who went on to lead Major League Soccer teams and the US national team.
Wahl was allowed to study abroad in Argentina, where he spent time with Boca Juniors before returning to the United States for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Wahl attributed his passion for the sport to his interactions with Bradley.
Professional Life
Wahl began his career as an intern with the Miami Herald in 1996. In November 1996, he joined Sports Illustrated, where he covered college basketball and soccer. Wahl covered 12 NCAA basketball tournaments, eight FIFA World Cups, and four Olympic games during his tenure.
He originally drew attention to his cover story “Where’s Daddy?” (1998), which recorded the growing number of illegitimate children born to professional athletes. Since then, he has written other cover stories and athlete profiles. Wahl also got four Magazine Story of the Year awards from the United States.
Also, he was elevated to the senior writer at Sports Illustrated in October 2000. Wahl’s primary focus for both the magazine and SI.com was soccer. Wahl’s first book, The Beckham Experiment (2009), focused on David Beckham’s move to the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer and his impact on the league. It went on to become a New York Times Best Seller.
Wahl was robbed of his phone and wallet at gunpoint in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in October 2009, while covering the fourth round of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification; earlier that day, he had interviewed temporary Honduran president Roberto Micheletti, who later apologized to Wahl for the event. Grant announced his intention to run for President of FIFA in the next election to replace incumbent Sepp Blatter in February 2011.
He withdrew before the official deadline, though, after failing to secure the backing of a football federation (at least one was required). Because of Wahl’s candidacy, FIFA changed its presidential nomination process to require the support of at least five associations.
FOX Sports
Grant Wahl joined FOX Sports in October 2012, following his participation in the network’s coverage of the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament earlier that year. With Wahl at the helm, SI debuted their soccer section, dubbed “Planet Ftbol,” in 2013. Wahl was sacked from Sports Illustrated on April 10, 2020, after criticizing James Heckman, CEO of the magazine’s publisher Maven, for handling wage cuts during the coronavirus epidemic. Heckman responded by criticizing Wahl’s work as well as her refusal to volunteer for a permanent pay drop.
CBS Sports
Wahl joined CBS Sports on October 5, 2021, as an analyst for its coverage of CONCACAF soccer events, as well as an editorial consultant for soccer films to show on Paramount+. While accompanying the United States to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Wahl was caught up in a rainbow-themed crackdown in Qatar. Wahl was arrested inside a stadium for the t-shirt he was wearing (which occurred to have the offensive image displayed), and a New York Times reporter who sought to report on the incident was also detained by Qatari officials.
Personal Life
Wahl graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School. He had earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Wahl continued his education at Princeton University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Politics in 1996.
Wahl was married to Celine Gounder, a medical doctor and medical writer from the United States who specializes in infectious illnesses and global health.
People’s reactions over Grant Wahl’s shocking demise:
Following Wahl’s death, individuals begin to share their feelings and speculate on whether it was a natural death or if any foul play occurred.
Washington Post
Wahl was covering a quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands when he collapsed, with U.S. Soccer confirming his death. Recognized as one of the most influential journalists in American soccer, Wahl worked for Sports Illustrated from 1996 to 2020 and was covering the tournament for his Substack feed, Fútbol with Grant Wahl.
Retsel J Mallari
I smelled something fishy here, the Qatar authorities killed him because Grant embarrassed them or some liberal propagandist killed him because they want Qatar embarrassed to the whole world?
Ray Bell
wait a second. This is the guy who was arrested at the beginning of the world. And according to his brother, he was healthy as could be
Russell Cartledge
Why is there always a laugh reaction when someone dies? Who the f*** is like that? I don’t even know who the f*** this is, but it’s not a laughing matter.
Richard Hedden
He Collapsed while at a game, no mention of foul play. Stop speculating and spreading unsupported rumors without facts!
Tony Armbrust
There’s something evil and sinister behind this tragedy.
Shannon Delehanty
So there’s no explanation and not even one that says he “died suddenly” which says something is fishy all over it. I know he caused quite a stir with his stances.
Frank Lopez
Sadly, this happened, but u can’t go to another country that doesn’t accept certain things and go display them. Remember they don’t play games in other countries. U should respect their cultures and what they don’t like it’s not the US
Abu Taj Muwallif
To Allah do we belong and to Him shall we all return. We are (almost) the same age. Death is so random. There is no telling when our time will be. So much of this short life is wasted on stuff that doesn’t matter at all in the long run. It’s time to focus on what matters most. May Allah have mercy upon us all. Ameen.
Hamo Alikadi
Was the pitch invader wearing a rainbow shirt killed? He was released from jail the same day. Y’all worse than the media. It’ll come to light soon when it does be quiet the man is dead have to respect.
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Lavanya (Senior Editor) is a full-time content writer with almost 5 years of experience and a part-time teacher. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. As a lifelong learner, She is constantly curious about learning new things and passionate about sharing knowledge with people through her writing and teaching.