Famed soccer journalist Grant Wall has died, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced Friday. Wall, 49, gathers news in Qatar World Cup When he died.
Wall’s agent, Tim Scanlan, said the reporter “appeared to be in some sort of severe depression in the press room” of the arena. Quarter-final match Between Argentina and the Netherlands, both teams went into extra time. Paramedics were called to the scene, Scanlon said, but were unable to revive him.
Qatari authorities said in a statement that Wall “received immediate medical treatment, which continued after he was transferred by ambulance to Hamad General Hospital.” The exact cause of death is still unknown.
There was a tail Tweeting During the tournament, he was part of the eighth World Cup he covered.
“The entire U.S. Soccer family is heartbroken to learn of the loss of Grant Wal,” the U.S. Soccer Federation said said in a statement Friday night. “Fans of high quality football and journalism know they can always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our sport and its key protagonists.”
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Wall talked about his health Spotify Podcast On Thursday, he said he contracted bronchitis while covering the World Cup.
“I took a little time here,” Wall told listeners. “We’ve had two days off here without a game. Seventeen days of games and my physique, I think, even when America went out, ‘Dude, you’re not getting enough sleep,’ it revolted me. So I. ‘I got bronchitis this week. I’ve been to the medical center at the clinic twice, including today. I’m feeling better today. I basically canceled everything I had on Thursday, I slept, and I’m doing a little better. You can tell in my voice that I’m not doing 100% here.”
Scanlan told CBS News that Wall had an “aggressive schedule” while in Qatar.
“Was it too much?” I asked that. And he said no, this is what he lived for, and he wanted the World Cup,” Scanlon said, referring to the Dec. 3 conversation, a week before Wallin’s death. “He was recognized for his eighth World Cup. He turned 48 yesterday. He was a famous cook and loved to entertain. Twenty good friends came over to his apartment last night to celebrate.”
An accomplished journalist, Wall wrote for several outlets and was a CBS Sports contributor. He was an analyst at CBS Sports HQ throughout the Qatar World Cup and wrote guest columns focusing on the US Men’s National Team for CBS Sports. He was also an editorial consultant for soccer documentaries at Paramount+.
Wall is also married to Dr. Celine Counter, a CBS News medical contributor. Counter Tweeted She said she was in “total shock” and thanked Wallin’s “football family” and their friends for their support as the news broke.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the agency was in contact with officials in Qatar.
“We were deeply saddened to learn of Grant Wall’s death and send our condolences to his family, with whom we had a close relationship,” Price said. Tweeted. “We are engaging with senior Qatari officials to see that his family’s wishes are carried out as quickly as possible.”
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber Tweeted: “We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken by the tragic passing of Grant Wall. He was a kind and caring person whose passion for football and commitment to journalism was immeasurable.”
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story used an incorrect age for Grant Wall and has been updated to correct his age.
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