American soccer journalist Grant Wahl, who contributed to Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports, passed away on Friday in Qatar after collapsing during a World Cup game, according to CBS News. At 48, Wahl.
Wahl received treatment at the stadium “for about 20 to 25 minutes,” according to World Soccer Magazine journalist Keir Radnedge, before being taken to a nearby hospital.
“This was towards the end of extra time in the match. Suddenly, colleagues up to my left started shouting for medical assistance. Obviously, someone had collapsed. Because the chairs are freestanding, people were able to move the chairs, so it’s possible to create a little bit of space around him,” Radnedge said.
The U.S. Soccer Federation confirmed the news in a statement on Twitter.
“The entire U.S. soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl,” the statement read. “Fans of soccer and journalism of the highest quality knew we could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game, and its major protagonists.”
Wahl revealed on his website earlier this week that he had not been feeling well and that he had sought medical attention while traveling in Qatar.
“My body finally broke down on me,” he shared. “Three weeks of little sleep, high stress and lots of work can do that to you. What had been a cold over the last 10 days turned into something more severe on the night of the USA-Netherlands game, and I could feel my upper chest take on a new level of pressure and discomfort.”