The soccer world was stunned Friday evening by the sudden death of longtime writer Grant Wahl during the Argentina–Netherlands World Cup quarterfinals match in Qatar.
Among those mourning Wahl’s death is England legend David Beckham, who was profiled by Wahl in a 2007 Sports Illustrated cover story and a 2009 New York Times bestselling book.
“I was shocked and saddened to hear the tragic news that Grant Wahl died yesterday. He was a true leader in his field, a highly respected journalist and a great person to spend time with,” Beckham said in a statement to SI. “He told the stories of U.S. soccer, mine included, with great intelligence and insight and his writing played a major part in driving interest and enthusiasm for the sport he loved. My thoughts and sincere condolences go to his family, friends and colleagues.”
Wahl, one of the United States’s preeminent soccer journalists, worked for SI from 1996 to 2020.
On July 16, 2007, Beckham appeared on the cover of SI on the heels of his move from Real Madrid to the Los Angeles Galaxy. A story by Wahl, titled “The Americanization of David Beckham,” examined whether Beckham could “[lift] the profile of soccer while blending in with his Galaxy mates.”
Two years later, Wahl wrote a book covering a similar theme. The Beckham Experiment: How the World's Most Famous Athlete Tried to Conquer America, the first of three nonfiction soccer books by Wahl, chronicled Beckham's first two seasons in Los Angeles.
Wahl's death has been mourned throughout the sports world, with U.S. Soccer, the captains of both the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams, LeBron James and many other offering condolences.
