A prominent soccer journalist from the United States has died after collapsing while covering the World Cup in Qatar, it has been reported by several outlets including CNN and BBC News.
A witness told CNN that Grant Wahl "collapsed" while covering the match on Friday between Argentina and Netherlands.
Qatar's World Cup organizers said on Saturday that Wahl "fell ill" in the press area, where he was given "immediate medical treatment on site."
He was then taken to Hamad General Hospital, said a spokesperson for the Supreme Court Committee for Delivery and Legacy, which is responsible for planning the tournament.
US Soccer said in a statement on its official Twitter account: "The entire US Soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl.
"Fans of soccer and journalism of the highest quality knew we could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game and its major protagonists: teams, players, coaches and the many personalities that make soccer unlike any sport.
"Here in the United States, Grant’s passion for soccer and commitment to elevating its profile across our sporting landscape played a major role in helping to drive interest in and respect for our beautiful game.
"As important, Grant’s belief in the power of the game to advance human rights was, and will remain, an inspiration to all.
"Grant made soccer his life’s work, and we are devastated that he and his brilliant writing will no longer be with us."
Wahl's wife Celine Gounder also shared some words on social media in the wake of her husband's death, writing: "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."
Per BBC News, initial reports indicate Wahl may have had a heart attack, but this has not been officially confirmed as of yet.
Last month, Wahl was detained by law enforcement in Qatar for attempting to enter a stadium - where the US was due to play Wales - wearing a rainbow shirt in support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Security had initially barred him from entering the stadium for this "political" statement, but Wahl eventually managed to get in with the shirt on.
He wrote at the time: "I’m OK, but that was an unnecessary ordeal. Am in the media center, still wearing my shirt. Was detained for nearly half an hour. Go gays."
During an episode of his podcast Futbol with Grant Wahl, which went live days before his sudden passing on December 6, he said he had been 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 went on to say that he sought treatment at the medical clinic at the World Cup media center and thought he may have had bronchitis.
After taking some cough syrup and ibuprofen, he began to feel a little better, he said.
Wahl also said he experienced an "involuntary capitulation by my body and mind" following a match on December 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."