LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Grant Wahl, probably the most well-known soccer writers in the US, died early Saturday whereas masking the World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands. He was 48.U.S. media seated close to him mentioned Wahl fell again in his seat in a bit of Lusail Iconic Stadium reserved for journalists throughout additional time of the sport, and reporters adjoining to him known as for help. Emergency providers staff responded in a short time, the reporters mentioned, and the reporters later have been informed that Wahl had died.“He obtained instant emergency medical remedy on website, which continued as he was transferred by ambulance to Hamad Common Hospital,” the World Cup organizing committee mentioned in a press release, which didn’t record a reason for demise. “We’re in contact with the US Embassy and related native authorities to make sure the method of repatriating the physique is in accordance with the household’s needs.”Wahl tweeted on Wednesday that he had celebrated his birthday that day. “We may all the time rely on Grant to ship insightful and entertaining tales about our sport, and its main protagonists,” the U.S. Soccer Federation mentioned in a press release. “Grant’s perception within the energy of the sport to advance human rights was, and can stay, an inspiration to all. Grant made soccer his life’s work, and we’re devastated that he and his good writing will now not be with us.”Wahl was masking his eighth World Cup. He wrote Monday on his web site that he had visited a medical clinic whereas in Qatar.“My physique lastly broke down on me. Three weeks of little sleep, excessive stress and plenty of work can do this to you,” Wahl wrote. “What had been a chilly over the past 10 days was one thing extra extreme on the night time of the USA-Netherlands sport, and I may really feel my higher chest tackle a brand new degree of stress and discomfort.”Wahl wrote that he examined destructive for COVID-19 and sought remedy for his signs.“I went into the medical clinic on the most important media middle in the present day, they usually mentioned I in all probability have bronchitis. They gave me a course of antibiotics and a few heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit higher only a few hours later. However nonetheless: No bueno,” he wrote.Wahl wore a rainbow T-shirt in help of LGBTQ rights to the US’ World Cup opener towards Wales on Nov. 21 and wrote that safety refused him entry and informed him to take away the shirt. Homosexual and lesbian intercourse is criminalized in Qatar, a conservative Muslim emirate.Simply now: Safety guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. “You need to change your shirt. It’s not allowed.” pic.twitter.com/TvSGThMYq8— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) November 21, 2022Grant Wahl mentioned he was briefly detained for sporting a rainbow shirt whereas masking the World Cup in Qatar.Wahl wrote he was detained for 25 minutes at Ahmed Bin Ali stadium in Al Rayyan, then was let go by a safety commander. Wahl mentioned FIFA apologized to him.U.S. State Division spokesman Ned Value tweeted late Friday: “We have been deeply saddened to be taught of the demise of Grant Wahl and ship our condolences to his household, with whom we’ve got been in shut communication. We’re engaged with senior Qatari officers to see to it that his household’s needs are fulfilled as expeditiously as potential.”Wahl is survived by his spouse, Dr. Celine Gounder, an affiliate professor at New York College College of Medication, attending doctor at Bellevue Hospital Heart and CBS Information contributor.Gounder tweeted that she was grateful for the help of her husband’s “soccer household” and pals who had reached out.“I’m in full shock,” she wrote.Amongst Wahl’s work earlier than he started masking soccer completely was a Sports activities Illustrated cowl story about LeBron James in 2002, when James was a junior at St. Vincent-St. Mary Excessive in Akron, Ohio.“He was all the time fairly cool to be round. He spent a number of time in my hometown of Akron,” James mentioned in Philadelphia after the Los Angeles Lakers misplaced in time beyond regulation to the 76ers. “Any time his title would come up, I’ll all the time assume again to me as a teen having Grant in our constructing down at St. V’s. It’s a tragic loss. It’s unlucky to lose somebody as nice as he was. I want his household the perfect. Might he relaxation in paradise.”A voter at instances in FIFA’s annual awards, Wahl had been amongst 82 journalists honored by FIFA and the worldwide sports activities press affiliation AIPS for attending eight or extra World Cups.“Just some days in the past, Grant was recognised by FIFA and AIPS for his contribution to reporting on eight consecutive FIFA World Cups, and his profession additionally included attendance at a number of FIFA Ladies’s World Cups, in addition to a number of different worldwide sporting occasions,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino mentioned. “His love for soccer was immense and his reporting shall be missed by all who comply with the worldwide sport.”Wahl graduated from Princeton in 1996 and labored for Sports activities Illustrated from 1996 to 2021, recognized primarily for his protection of soccer and school basketball. He then launched his personal web site.Wahl additionally labored for Fox Sports activities from 2012-19.___