Grant Wahl was a renowned journalist in the American soccer space. Wahl was mainly renowned for his work with Sports Illustrated. The 49-year-old was covering the matches of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

On one such night, while the match was still underway, Wahl collapsed suddenly in the stands. Even the emergency medical aid at the stadium could not save Wahl. The incident happened at the Lusail Stadium when suddenly Wahl fell backward onto his seat.

Mia Hamm mourns the loss of Grant Wahl

Former USWNT captain, Mia Hamm, recently expressed herself on the tragic passing of Grant Wahl. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Hamm said, “I was shocked. I remember seeing it on Twitter and I think I had to reread it three times. I was in shock and heartbroken for his wife and his family.”

During his career, Wahl made a significant contribution to women’s soccer. In relation to that, Hamm stated, “I remember seeing him around with National Team games. I remember seeing him in our first domestic league, the WUSA final. He was just a huge advocate for the players and our game.” She continued, “Grant loved this game and he loved talking about it. And he loved sharing the stories. And just our game is better because Grant Wahl was in it.”

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 What exactly happened before Wahl’s death?

This was not the first time we’ve heard the name Grant Wahl in relation to the World Cup. Earlier during the campaign, Wahl was seen trying to enter a stadium while wearing a rainbow-colored shirt. While that might sound normal to you, it surely wasn’t for the Qatar authorities. They didn’t allow Wahl to proceed and, in fact, arrested him from outside the stadium. This incident raised many eyebrows across the globe.

However, when Wahl suddenly passed away, his family was not ready to believe the reports in public. Wahl’s family suspected serious ‘foul play’. They suspected that, post the arrest, Wahl might have been on their radar already.

Many personalities from around the globe have expressed their grief about Wahl’s death. One of them is LeBron James. The NBA legend shared a very tight bond with Wahl. James shot for Sports Illustrated in 2002, almost a year before he made his debut for The Cleveland Cavaliers. Magazines like that one are still remembered as super hits. Soon after that, James got the tattoo ‘The Chosen One’ on his back as a tribute.

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The FIFA World Cup in Qatar has been home to many controversies in the last month. Which one shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments below.