World Cup 2022

U.S. soccer journalist Grant Wahl died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm while covering the World Cup in Qatar, Wahl's wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, said in a statement on Wednesday. Grounder said Wahl's body was returned to the United States on Monday, where an autopsy was performed.

"An autopsy was performed by the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office. Grant died from the rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium. The chest pressure he experienced shortly before his death may have represented the initial symptoms. No amount of CPR or shocks would have saved him. His death was unrelated to COVID. His death was unrelated to vaccination status. There was nothing nefarious about his death."

An aortic aneurysm happens when the aorta, the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body, develops a balloon-like bulge. According to the CDC, it can build for years, often with no symptoms or symptoms that can seem like something else (like pain in the back, belly or side). When the pressure on the aorta gets too great, it can rupture.