FIFA honours late journalist Grant Wahl who died from ruptured aortic aneurysm at 2022 World Cup

FIFA has acknowledged and appreciated the immense contribution of late US football journalist Grant Wahl, who died from ruptured aortic aneurysm while reporting the FIFA World Cup quarter-final match between Argentina and The Netherlands. The football writer died in the media area of the Lusail Stadium.

While paying tribute, FIFA played a video clip of 30 seconds which highlighted Wahl's contribution. The governing body played the video on a big screen at the Al Bayt Stadium before the kick-off of the quarter-final match between England and France. FIFA president Gianni Infantino also expressed his condolences to the journalist's family and friends. Infantino said that Wahl's "writing will be missed."

Meanwhile, the late journalist's wife Celine Gounder on Wednesday said that Grant Wahl died from the "rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium". A ruptured aortic aneurysm refers to a bulge or swelling in the main artery that carries blood from the heart tears. This further stops the blood from reaching the rest of the body.


The 48-year-old football writer first covered the FIFA World Cup in 1994. After that, he reported all editions of the World Cup. Wahl was recently honoured by FIFA and International Sports Press Association (AIPS) for reporting eight World Cups. The journalist was presented a Jules Rimet trophy replica by former Brazilian striker Ronaldo. The function was held at the Main Media Centre, and Wahl was honoured along with other veteran journalists.



The 2022 FIFA World Cup is being held in Qatar, and the final of the tournament will be played on December 18. Argentina reached the final after beating Croatia in the first semi-final. The winner of the second semi-final match, to be played between France and Morocco, will face Argentina in the final.

FAQs:

1. Who was Grant Wahl?
   Grant Wahl was a US football journalist. He had covered all editions of the FIFA World Cup since 1994.
2. When did Grant Wahl die?
   Grant Wahl passed away while reporting the quarter-final match between Argentina and The Netherlands.