LUSAIL, Qatar — Grant Wahl, one of the vital well-known soccer writers in america, died early Saturday whereas protecting the World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands.
U.S. media seated close to him mentioned Wahl fell again in his seat within the media tribune at Lusail Iconic Stadium throughout additional time and reporters adjoining to him referred to as for help. Emergency providers employees responded in a short time, the reporters mentioned, and the reporters later have been informed that Wahl had died.
Wahl tweeted on Wednesday that he had celebrated his birthday that day. American reporters who knew Wahl mentioned he was 49.
Wahl was protecting his eighth World Cup. He wrote Monday on his web site that he had visited a medical clinic whereas in Qatar.
“My physique lastly broke down on me. Three weeks of little sleep, excessive stress and many work can do this to you,” Wahl wrote. “What had been a chilly over the past 10 days changed into one thing extra extreme on the night time of the USA-Netherlands sport, and I may really feel my higher chest tackle a brand new degree of stress and discomfort.”
Wahl wrote that he examined destructive for COVID-19 and sought remedy for his signs.
“I went into the medical clinic on the foremost media middle immediately, and so they mentioned I in all probability have bronchitis. They gave me a course of antibiotics and a few heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit higher just some hours later. However nonetheless: No bueno,” he wrote.
Wahl wrote this week that he had been amongst 82 journalists honored by FIFA and the worldwide sports activities press affiliation AIPS for attending eight or extra World Cups.
A 1996 graduate of Princeton, Wahl labored for Sports activities Illustrated from 1996 to 2021, recognized primarily for his protection of soccer and school basketball. He then launched his personal web site.
Wahl additionally labored for FOX Sports activities from 2012-19.
He’s survived by his spouse, Dr. Celine Grounder, scientific affiliate professor of medication at New York College Faculty of Drugs, attending doctor at Bellevue Hospital Heart and CBS Information medical information contributor.
Reporting from the Related Press.
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