Sports journalist Grant Wahl dies during World Cup match

Soccer journalist Grant Wahl.
(Image credit: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Grant Wahl, an American sports writer who became one of the most prominent soccer journalists in the United States, passed away Friday while covering the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He was 49.

Wahl's agent confirmed to The New York Times that his client had died. "He wasn't sleeping well, and I asked him if he tried melatonin or anything like [that]," his agent said. "He said, 'I just need to like relax for a bit.'"

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Justin Klawans, The Week US

 Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.