The death of prominent journalist Grant Wahl at the World Cup in Qatar has led to an outpouring of shock and grief across the sports world, with NBA star LeBron James and tennis great Billie Jean King leading the tributes to the American.Wahl died after collapsing while covering Friday's Argentina-Netherlands match. The circumstances around his death are unclear.King said Wahl's death was "heartbreaking.""A talented journalist, Grant was an advocate for the LGBTQ community & a prominent voice for women's soccer," King tweeted Saturday. "He used his platform to elevate those whose stories needed telling. Prayers for his family."On Friday in Philadelphia, basketball star James said he had been "very fond of Grant." While Wahl was at Sports Illustrated, he did a cover story on James when James was in high school."I've always kind of watched from a distance even when I moved up in ranks and became a professional, and he went to a different sport," said James, speaking at a postgame press conference. "Any time his name would come up I'll always think back to me as a teenager and having Grant in our building ... It's a tragic loss."Tyler Adams, the captain of the U.S. men's national soccer team, which was knocked out of the World Cup by the Netherlands in the last 16, sent his "deepest sympathy" to Wahl's wife, Celine Gounder, and to those who knew him."As players we have a tremendous amount of respect for the work of journalists, & Grant's was a giant voice in soccer that has tragically fallen silent," Adams wrote on Twitter.Qatar's World Cup organizers said on Saturday that Wahl "fell ill" in the press area, where he received "immediate medical treatment on site."He was then transferred to Hamad General Hospital, said a spokesperson for the Supreme Court Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the body responsible for planning the tournament.Wahl was treated in the stadium "for about 20-25 minutes" before he was moved to the hospital, Keir Radnedge, a columnist at World Soccer Magazine, told CNN Saturday."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.He added that the medical team were there "pretty quickly and were able to, as best they could, give treatment."'Shocked and devastated'"Only some days ago, Grant was recognized by FIFA and AIPS (the International Sports Press Association) for his contribution to reporting on eight consecutive FIFA World Cups," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement.Infantino and FIFA media director Bryan Swanson were at the hospital on Saturday to offer any kind of support needed for the family, friends, and the journalists who were also his housemates in Qatar.The co-editors in chief of Sports Illustrated, the publication where Wahl spent the majority of his career, said in a joint statement they were "shocked and devastated at the news of Grant's passing.""We were proud to call him a colleague and friend for two decades -- no writer in the history of (Sports Illustrated) has been more passionate about the sport he loved and the stories he wanted to tell," said the statement.It added that Wahl had first joined the publication in November 1996. He had volunteered to cover the sport as a junior reporter -- back before it reached the heights of global popularity it now enjoys -- eventually becoming "one of the most respected soccer authorities in the world," it said.The statement said that Wahl also worked with other media outlets including Fox Sports. After leaving Sports Illustrated in 2020, he began publishing his podcast and newsletter.Other current and former U.S. soccer players, including Ali Krieger and Tony Meola, shared their condolences, as did sporting bodies such as Major League Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League.Wittyngham, Wahl's podcast co-host, told CNN on Saturday the news of his death had been hard to fathom."For Americans, Grant Wahl is the first person you read covering soccer. He was kind of the only person for a while ... Grant was the first person who really paid genuine attention to this sport in a meaningful way," Wittyngham said.Several journalists shared stories of reporting alongside Wahl, and having encountered him at multiple World Cups over the years."Before he became the best covering soccer he did hoops and was so kind to me," wrote famed broadcaster Dick Vitale.Timmy T. Davis, the U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, tweeted that Wahl was "a well known and greatly respected reporter who focused on the beautiful game.""The entire US Soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl," U.S. Soccer said in a statement on its official Twitter account."Grant made soccer his life's work, and we are devastated that he and his brilliant writing will no longer be with us."U.S. Soccer praised Wahl's passion and "belief in the power of the game to advance human rights," and shared its condolences with Wahl's wife and his loved ones.Gounder also posted the U.S. Soccer statement on Twitter."I am so thankful for the support of my husband Grant Wahl's soccer family and of so many friends who've reached out tonight. I'm in complete shock," wrote Gounder, a former CNN contributor who served on the Biden-Harris transition COVID-19 advisory board.U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the department was in "close communication" with Wahl's family. The World Cup organizers also said they were in touch with the U.S. embassy "to ensure the process of repatriating the body is in accordance with the family's wishes."Wahl had covered soccer for more than two decades, including 11 World Cups — six men's, five women's -- and authored several books on the sport, according to his website. He had just celebrated his birthday earlier this week with "a great group of media friends at the World Cup," according to a post on his official Twitter account, which added: "Very thankful for everyone."Feeling illIn an episode of the podcast Futbol with Grant Wahl, published days before his death on Dec. 6, he had complained of feeling unwell."It had gotten pretty bad in terms of like the tightness in my chest, tightness, pressure. Feeling pretty hairy, bad," Wahl told co-host Chris Wittyngham in the episode. He added that he sought help at the medical clinic at the World Cup media center, believing he had bronchitis.He was given cough syrup and ibuprofen, and felt better shortly afterward, he said.Wahl also said he experienced an "involuntary capitulation by my body and mind" after the U.S.-Netherlands game on Dec. 3."This isn't my first rodeo. I've done eight of these on the men's side," he said at the time. "And so like, I've gotten sick to some extent at every tournament, and it's just about trying to find a way to like get your work done."He further described the incident in a recent newsletter published on Dec. 5, writing that his body had "broke down" after he had little sleep, high stress and a heavy workload. He'd had a cold for 10 days, which "turned into something more severe," he wrote, adding that he felt better after receiving antibiotics and catching up on sleep.Wahl had made headlines in November by reporting that he was detained and briefly refused entry to a World Cup match because he was wearing a rainbow t-shirt in support of LGBTQ rights.He said security staff had told him to change his shirt because "it's not allowed," and had taken his phone. Wahl said he was released 25 minutes after being detained and received apologies from a FIFA representative and a senior member of the security team at the stadium.Afterward, Wahl told CNN he "probably will" wear the shirt again.

The death of prominent journalist Grant Wahl at the World Cup in Qatar has led to an outpouring of shock and grief across the sports world, with NBA star LeBron James and tennis great Billie Jean King leading the tributes to the American.

Wahl died after collapsing while covering Friday's Argentina-Netherlands match. The circumstances around his death are unclear.

King said Wahl's death was "heartbreaking."

"A talented journalist, Grant was an advocate for the LGBTQ community & a prominent voice for women's soccer," King tweeted Saturday. "He used his platform to elevate those whose stories needed telling. Prayers for his family."

On Friday in Philadelphia, basketball star James said he had been "very fond of Grant." While Wahl was at Sports Illustrated, he did a cover story on James when James was in high school.

"I've always kind of watched from a distance even when I moved up in ranks and became a professional, and he went to a different sport," said James, speaking at a postgame press conference. "Any time his name would come up I'll always think back to me as a teenager and having Grant in our building ... It's a tragic loss."

Tyler Adams, the captain of the U.S. men's national soccer team, which was knocked out of the World Cup by the Netherlands in the last 16, sent his "deepest sympathy" to Wahl's wife, Celine Gounder, and to those who knew him.

"As players we have a tremendous amount of respect for the work of journalists, & Grant's was a giant voice in soccer that has tragically fallen silent," Adams wrote on Twitter.

Qatar's World Cup organizers said on Saturday that Wahl "fell ill" in the press area, where he received "immediate medical treatment on site."

He was then transferred to Hamad General Hospital, said a spokesperson for the Supreme Court Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the body responsible for planning the tournament.

Wahl was treated in the stadium "for about 20-25 minutes" before he was moved to the hospital, Keir Radnedge, a columnist at World Soccer Magazine, told CNN Saturday.

"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.

He added that the medical team were there "pretty quickly and were able to, as best they could, give treatment."

'Shocked and devastated'

"Only some days ago, Grant was recognized by FIFA and AIPS (the International Sports Press Association) for his contribution to reporting on eight consecutive FIFA World Cups," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement.

Infantino and FIFA media director Bryan Swanson were at the hospital on Saturday to offer any kind of support needed for the family, friends, and the journalists who were also his housemates in Qatar.

The co-editors in chief of Sports Illustrated, the publication where Wahl spent the majority of his career, said in a joint statement they were "shocked and devastated at the news of Grant's passing."

Brendan Moran

"We were proud to call him a colleague and friend for two decades -- no writer in the history of (Sports Illustrated) has been more passionate about the sport he loved and the stories he wanted to tell," said the statement.

It added that Wahl had first joined the publication in November 1996. He had volunteered to cover the sport as a junior reporter -- back before it reached the heights of global popularity it now enjoys -- eventually becoming "one of the most respected soccer authorities in the world," it said.

The statement said that Wahl also worked with other media outlets including Fox Sports. After leaving Sports Illustrated in 2020, he began publishing his podcast and newsletter.

Other current and former U.S. soccer players, including Ali Krieger and Tony Meola, shared their condolences, as did sporting bodies such as Major League Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League.

Wittyngham, Wahl's podcast co-host, told CNN on Saturday the news of his death had been hard to fathom.

"For Americans, Grant Wahl is the first person you read covering soccer. He was kind of the only person for a while ... Grant was the first person who really paid genuine attention to this sport in a meaningful way," Wittyngham said.

Several journalists shared stories of reporting alongside Wahl, and having encountered him at multiple World Cups over the years.

"Before he became the best covering soccer he did hoops and was so kind to me," wrote famed broadcaster Dick Vitale.

Timmy T. Davis, the U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, tweeted that Wahl was "a well known and greatly respected reporter who focused on the beautiful game."

"The entire US Soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl," U.S. Soccer said in a statement on its official Twitter account.

AP

"Grant made soccer his life's work, and we are devastated that he and his brilliant writing will no longer be with us."

U.S. Soccer praised Wahl's passion and "belief in the power of the game to advance human rights," and shared its condolences with Wahl's wife and his loved ones.

Gounder also posted the U.S. Soccer statement on Twitter.

"I am so thankful for the support of my husband Grant Wahl's soccer family and of so many friends who've reached out tonight. I'm in complete shock," wrote Gounder, a former CNN contributor who served on the Biden-Harris transition COVID-19 advisory board.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the department was in "close communication" with Wahl's family. The World Cup organizers also said they were in touch with the U.S. embassy "to ensure the process of repatriating the body is in accordance with the family's wishes."

Wahl had covered soccer for more than two decades, including 11 World Cups — six men's, five women's -- and authored several books on the sport, according to his website.

He had just celebrated his birthday earlier this week with "a great group of media friends at the World Cup," according to a post on his official Twitter account, which added: "Very thankful for everyone."

Feeling ill

In an episode of the podcast Futbol with Grant Wahl, published days before his death on Dec. 6, he had complained of feeling unwell.

"It had gotten pretty bad in terms of like the tightness in my chest, tightness, pressure. Feeling pretty hairy, bad," Wahl told co-host Chris Wittyngham in the episode. He added that he sought help at the medical clinic at the World Cup media center, believing he had bronchitis.

He was given cough syrup and ibuprofen, and felt better shortly afterward, he said.

Wahl also said he experienced an "involuntary capitulation by my body and mind" after the U.S.-Netherlands game on Dec. 3.

"This isn't my first rodeo. I've done eight of these on the men's side," he said at the time. "And so like, I've gotten sick to some extent at every tournament, and it's just about trying to find a way to like get your work done."

He further described the incident in a recent newsletter published on Dec. 5, writing that his body had "broke down" after he had little sleep, high stress and a heavy workload. He'd had a cold for 10 days, which "turned into something more severe," he wrote, adding that he felt better after receiving antibiotics and catching up on sleep.

Wahl had made headlines in November by reporting that he was detained and briefly refused entry to a World Cup match because he was wearing a rainbow t-shirt in support of LGBTQ rights.

He said security staff had told him to change his shirt because "it's not allowed," and had taken his phone. Wahl said he was released 25 minutes after being detained and received apologies from a FIFA representative and a senior member of the security team at the stadium.

Afterward, Wahl told CNN he "probably will" wear the shirt again.

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The body and possessions of soccer journalist Grant Wahl were repatriated to the United States on Monday after his death last week while covering the World Cup in Qatar, a senior State Department official said.The official said Wahl's remains and his belongings arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport around 8:30 a.m. ET. They were accompanied by a consular official from the U.S. Embassy in Doha who had had custody of Wahl's remains since shortly after he collapsed during Friday's match between Argentina and the Netherlands and later died.The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns, had no additional details but said the embassy in Qatar had been working with Wahl's family to ensure the repatriation went smoothly.Wahl, an American journalist who helped grow the popularity of soccer in the United States and reported on some of the biggest stories in the sport, was 49.Tributes to Wahl have poured in since his death and on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken added his voice to the chorus of appreciation."I so appreciated Grant Wahl, whose writing captured not only the essence of the beautiful game but also the world around it," Blinken wrote on Twitter about an hour after the repatriation was complete."I send my deepest condolences to his family, and thank our embassy team and Qatari partners who worked together so effectively to fulfill their wishes," Blinken wrote.Wahl, who had complained of respiratory problems earlier in the week and had been treated for a possible case of bronchitis, fell back in his seat in a section of Lusail Stadium reserved for journalists during extra time of the game, and reporters adjacent to him called for assistance.Emergency services workers responded very quickly, treated him for 20 or 30 minutes on site and then took him out on a stretcher. The World Cup organizing committee said he was taken to Doha's Hamad General Hospital, but it did not state a cause of death.Wahl wrote for Sports Illustrated for more than two decades and then started his own website. He was a major voice informing an American public of soccer during a time of increased interest after the United States hosted the 1994 World Cup.He also brought a critical eye to the international organizing bodies of the sport.

Sports reporter Grant Wahl died of a rupture of an ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium — an accumulation of blood in the sac around his heart — his wife, Dr. Céline Gounder announced on Wednesday. The aneurysm was slowly growing and had gone undetected, she wrote in a statement on Substack."The chest pressure he experienced shortly before his death may have represented the initial symptoms. No amount of CPR or shocks would have saved him. His death was unrelated to COVID. His death was unrelated to vaccination status. There was nothing nefarious about his death," Gounder wrote.An aneurysm occurs when a weak spot in a blood vessel bulges or balloons out. In Wahl's case, the bulge was in the aorta, the largest artery carrying blood away from the heart. An ascending aortic aneurysm happens when the bulge is located in the section of the aorta that is close to the heart, right where it begins to climb out of the lower left pumping chamber.If left untreated, aneurysms can cause the wall of a blood vessel to split or burst, leading to death.It's very rare to survive an event like the one that happened to Wahl, said CNN Medical Correspondent Dr. Tara Narula, who is a practicing cardiologist.Narula said the blood in the sac around the heart is an indication that the artery wall had ruptured."Normally there's no blood in that space. And what can happen is if there's enough blood that gets in there, the heart essentially can't beat because it sort of compresses the heart, and you can have a cardiac arrest," she said, adding that she couldn't comment specifically on what with Wahl, because she didn't have any personal knowledge of his case.Aortic aneurysms were the cause of death for about 10,000 people in 2019, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Aneurysms in the chest become more common as people age. They are slightly more common among men than women, according to the American Heart Association. They are usually caused by high blood pressure or sudden injury, or a history of high cholesterol or smoking.Certain inherited conditions such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can make it more likely for a person to experience one.Aortic aneurysm symptoms and treatmentSymptoms of an aortic aneurysm include:Sudden sharp pain in the back or chestShortness of breathTrouble breathing or swallowingHoarsenessCoughNot everyone will experience symptoms, even with a large aneurysm. Actor John Ritter died suddenly in 2003 from an aortic aneurysm while he was rehearsing on set.If an aneurysm is caught in time, it may be able to be treated with medication or surgery.Aortic aneurysms have become more common over the last decade, increasing about 75%, according to the American Heart Association. Still, these events are rare, occurring in about two out of every 100,000 people.Because of their association with tobacco use, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all men who have ever smoked get an ultrasound screening between the ages of 65 and 75, for abdominal aortic aneurysms, even if they don't have symptoms. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are bulges of that artery that could rupture in the abdomen.