As the 2022 World Cup’s Argentina-Netherlands quarterfinal draws to a close, NPR’s Tom Goldman witnesses a commotion in the press stands at Lusail Stadium — as Grant Wahl falls. The reporters dispersed. Paramedics went to his seating area and performed CPR. After a few minutes, they removed him on a stretcher while continuing to perform CPR using an automated chest compression machine.
Wahl’s wife and brother both confirmed his death to NPR.
US Soccer noted Wahl’s death in a tweet, saying the organization was heartbroken.
Wahl has also expressed physical discomfort.
“My body finally broke down on me. 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,” Wahl wrote on Dec. 5.
“I went into the medical clinic at the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis. 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.”
“Before he became the best covering soccer, he did hoops and was so kind to me,” wrote famed broadcaster Dick Vitale.
“We are shocked, saddened, and heartbroken over the tragic passing of Grant Wahl,” said Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber, adding that Wahl was “a kind and caring person.”
The National Women’s Soccer League also tweeted its condolences, saying Wahl’s “commitment to sharing the stories of our beautiful game was unmatched, but more importantly, his integrity, thoughtfulness, and kindness were central to the way he lived.”
