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CBS Sports Analyst Grant Wahl Dies in Qatar During World Cup
December 10, 2022
Longtime soccer journalist Grant Wahl, who was covering the World Cup for CBS Sports in Qatar, died on Thursday while reporting on the quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands.
Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA 🇺🇦 @celinegounderI am so thankful for the support of my husband <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantWahl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GrantWahl</a>'s soccer family & of so many friends who've reached out tonight.<br><br>I'm in complete shock. <a href="https://t.co/OB3IzOxGlE">https://t.co/OB3IzOxGlE</a>
A cause of death has not been released publicly.
According to the Associated Press, "U.S. media seated near him said Wahl fell back in his seat in the media tribune at Lusail Iconic Stadium during extra time, and reporters adjacent to him called for assistance. Emergency services workers responded very quickly, the reporters said, and the reporters later were told that Wahl had died."
Wahl wrote on Monday that he had been sick for about 10 days, attributing it to being overworked and not getting much sleep while covering the World Cup before his symptoms eventually got bad enough that he went to a medical clinic in Qatar.
"I went into the medical clinic at the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis," he wrote. "They gave me a course of antibiotics and some heavy-duty cough syrup, and I'm already feeling a bit better just a few hours later. But still: No bueno."
He said he tested negative for COVID-19.
Before the United States' matchup with Wales on Nov. 21, Wahl posted on social media that he was not initially granted access to Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium for wearing a shirt with a rainbow encircling a soccer ball:
Subscribe to GrantWahl.com @GrantWahlFree to read: What happened when Qatar World Cup security detained me for 25 minutes for wearing a t-shirt supporting LGBTQ rights, forcibly took my phone and angrily demanded that I remove my t-shirt to enter the stadium. (I refused.) Story: <a href="https://t.co/JKpXXETDkH">https://t.co/JKpXXETDkH</a> <a href="https://t.co/HEjr0xzxU5">pic.twitter.com/HEjr0xzxU5</a>
Wahl told Kevin Dotson and Ben Morse of CNN after the incident that he had been given assurances he would be allowed to wear such clothing into the stadium. He further explained his decision to wear the shirt:
It's really important to me and it's not required by any stretch of the imagination. I've got family members who are gay. I've got friends who are gay. I've got journalist friends who are gay who are here in Qatar. But you don't need that to be supportive, to be an ally. So, I was thinking about all of those people yesterday. I was thinking about Colorado Springs. I was thinking all sorts of stuff. And if I have to be detained for 30 minutes, it's kind of annoying. But it's not an issue for me. And so I was glad to at least help out a little bit.
Wahl wasn't alone in dealing with issues while attempting to wear pro-LGBQT+ clothing into Qatar's stadiums:
Laura McAllister 🌻 🏴 @LauraMcAllisterSo, despite fine words from <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAWorldCup</a> before event <a href="https://twitter.com/Cymru?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cymru</a> rainbow Bucket hats confiscated at stadium, mine included. I had a conversation about this with stewards - we have video evidence. This <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup2022</a> just gets better but we will continue stand up for our values 🌈
Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, though the country publicly stated that it would welcome all fans to the World Cup.
Wahl had also written about other issues in Qatar. Yesterday, he posted an article critical of the Qatari response to another death of a migrant worker at the World Cup.
Sportswriters and prominent figures from the soccer world offered tributes to Wahl and sent condolences after learning of his death on Friday:
Chris Wittyngham @ChrisWittynghamGrant Wahl was kind. Needlessly kind. I love him and I'll miss him.<br><br>He treated me with a level of respect I didn't deserve. He gave me an opportunity when I needed one. And most importantly he was kind. Needlessly kind<br><br>I'll miss him. I'm devastated beyond words
Brian Phillips @brianphillipsGrant Wahl was my friend and was one of the most generous, kind, and encouraging people I knew in or out of sports media. He was such a bright presence; I never talked to him without feeling a little better about the world afterward. This is crushing. <a href="https://t.co/PexnfvmZbC">https://t.co/PexnfvmZbC</a>
Wahl's career included stops at Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports and CBS Sports, spending time covering college basketball, the Olympics and, most prominently, soccer.