• US reporter Grant Wahl who covered World Cup died from acute distress.
• US Soccer expressed its “heartbreak” at the hearing of Wahl’s passing.
• Earlier Wahl had been tweeting about the Netherlands-Argentina match.

Famous US soccer reporter Grant Wahl passed away unexpectedly on Friday after falling while covering a game at the World Cup in Qatar, according to his agent.

US Soccer expressed its “heartbreak” at the hearing of Wahl’s passing. In response to the US Soccer statement, his wife posted on Twitter that she was “completely shocked.”

We are deeply heartbroken to learn of the passing of Grant Wahl. Grant’s storytelling brought us all closer to the sport, and our community was made better by both his commitment to the game and the individuals behind it. We send our sincerest condolences to all his loved ones.

— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) December 10, 2022

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), who organized the World Cup in Qatar, praised Wahl’s “enormous love of football” and sent their condolences to his loved ones as well as to his friends, family, and coworkers in the media.

Earlier on Friday, Wahl, a former reporter for Sports Illustrated who now works for the internet publishing platform Substack, had been tweeting about the Netherlands-Argentina match.

In the beginning of extra time during the quarterfinal game, Wahl “looked to suffer some form of extreme anxiety,” according to his agent Tim Scanlan, who spoke to Reuters.

Prior to being sent to a nearby hospital, where Wahl’s death was officially pronounced, according to Scanlan, efforts were tried to revive him in the press box.

The SC spokeswoman stated, “We are in contact with the US Embassy and pertinent local authorities to ensure the procedure of repatriating the remains is in conformity with the family’s wishes.

Requests for comment from Qatar’s international media office were not immediately fulfilled.

Everyone is affected, and Scanlan described the situation as traumatizing. “He genuinely cared about the sport and was an advocate for both the men’s and women’s competitions. He was an excellent writer who also had empathy.”

In a statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed sympathy and said that Wahl’s “passion for football was enormous and his reporting will be missed by everyone who follow the worldwide game.”

When Wahl attempted to enter a World Cup stadium in late November while donning a rainbow-colored jersey in solidarity of the LGBTQ community, he was briefly detained at the security screening station. Same-sex relationships are forbidden in Qatar.

He claimed that World Cup security instructed him to take off his shirt and refused him access to the United States’ opening match versus Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan.

Wahl mentioned visiting a hospital while in Qatar in a letter he sent on Monday.

He wrote on Substack, “I went into the medical clinic at the major media center today, and they stated I probably had bronchitis. I didn’t have COVID (I test here frequently), but.

Ned Price, a spokesman for the US State Administration, said on Twitter that the department had been in constant contact with Wahl’s family.

Price added, “We are working with senior Qatari officials to ensure that his family’s wishes are carried out as quickly as possible.

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. We are engaged with senior Qatari officials to see to it that his family’s wishes are fulfilled as expeditiously as possible.

— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) December 10, 2022

The news was met with an immediate outpouring of sorrow from the US soccer community.

Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer, said “He was a kind and kind person whose passion for soccer and dedication to journalism were unparalleled.”

Megan Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup champion, wrote on Twitter, “This is so sad.” “To his family and loved ones, all the love.”

We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken over the tragic passing of Grant Wahl. He was a kind and caring person whose passion for soccer and dedication to journalism were immeasurable. pic.twitter.com/ohJoZlGfk0

— Don Garber (@thesoccerdon) December 10, 2022

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