A respected American sports journalist, Grant Wall, best known for his storytelling-focused coverage of football and behind-the-scenes coverage of the rise of the sport in America, was in Qatar early Saturday morning. Died at the age of 49. Wall suddenly collapsed in the press box of his stadium against Lusail during the quarter-final match between Argentina and the Netherlands. According to people close to the situation, he may have suffered a heart attack or a lung event, but the exact cause of death is still unknown, reports CBS News.
Wall was an analyst for CBS Sports HQ during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and wrote a guest column for CBS Sports focusing on the US Men’s National Team. He was also an editorial consultant for Paramount+ football documentaries.
CBS Sports issued the following statement:: “I am deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic passing of Grant Wall. will continue to have an impact and mark on the football community, and all of us at CBS Sports extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Celine Gunder, Grant’s wife, and his family and friends.”
Wall, who was covering the eighth World Cup, wrote in his personal Substack about the recent medical incident he experienced in Qatar.
“My body has finally broken down. Three weeks of lack of sleep, high stress, and a lot of work have done it for you. The cold of the last 10 days made it worse on the night of the USA-Netherlands game.” It got serious, I could feel my upper chest taking on a new level of pressure and discomfort,” Wall wrote on Dec. 5.
“I went to the Main Media Center clinic today and they said I might have bronchitis. I was prescribed antibiotics and a strong cough syrup and within a few hours I felt a little better.” Later .But still: No Bueno.”
Wall’s agent, Tim Scanlan, told CBS News that Wall “looked like he was in some kind of serious pain in the press room” when the two teams started the game in overtime. Paramedics were called to the scene and taken to a “nearby hospital”.
Born in Mission, Kansas, Wall graduated from Princeton University in 1996. While he was at Princeton, he covered the Tigers men’s soccer team coached by Bob He Bradley. Bob Bradley coached the US men’s soccer team ten years later.
As one of America’s best-known football reporters, Wall strengthened his position in the sports industry, covering Major League Soccer, the Women’s National Soccer League, and the United States National Team. He worked his way up to becoming a Senior Writer for Sports Illustrated and covered numerous NCAA Tournaments, Olympics and World Cups during his career.
Following the boom caused by David Beckham’s surprise arrival at the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, Wall published his first book, The Beckham Experiment, in 2009. It detailed the impact of Beckham’s move to the United States and became a New York Times bestseller.
Wall continued with the book Modern Football Masters: The World’s Best Ways to Play the 21st Century Game, which gave behind-the-scenes perspectives of elite players (Christian Pulisic and Javier Chicharito) and coaches (Roberto Martinez). ) Strategize on and off the field to perform in pressure situations.
Wahl brought daily news coverage to Substack during this World Cup cycle. He was on site for every game. He also has a well-known podcast, ‘Fútbol with Grant Wahl’, where co-host, along with Chris Wittyngham, provided analysis, expertise and reporting on his story as one of football’s top stars. On his Thanksgiving Day, his series Good Rivals, a documentary that explores the social, political and sporting layers of the US-Mexico conflict, launched with Wall as one of his producers.
During his stay in Qatar, Wall was honored by FIFA alongside more than 70 veteran journalists who have covered at least eight World Cups at a special ceremony held jointly with the Association of International Sports Press (AIPS). He received a mini-replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy from two-time Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo at a ceremony on Monday.
Wall served as a watchdog for the sport and played an integral role in the rise of football in America, particularly following the 1994 USA World Cup and the start of the MLS in 1996. Like Wall, an insight into the American football scene.
In 2011, he briefly campaigned against Sepp Blatter’s presidency at FIFA to shed light on the changes needed in the sport’s governing body.
Wall is survived by his wife Celine Gownder, an American doctor and medical journalist who specializes in infectious diseases and global health. She is a medical contributor for her CBS News and a former member of her COVID-19 Advisory Board created by then-U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team.
US Soccer issued the following statement:
“The entire American football family is heartbroken to learn of the loss of Grant Wahl. Grant’s passion for football and his commitment to raising the profile of football across the sporting world has played a major role in increasing interest and respect for this beautiful game. , Grant’s belief in the power of the game to advance human rights has continued to inspire everyone. Grant made football his life’s work. My deepest condolences to Dr. Gunder and to his family, friends and colleagues in the media.The impact on gaming in the United States.What he wrote and the stories he told will live on.”
