DOHA: Grant Wahl, a well-known American soccer journalist, died on Friday after suffering "acute distress" while covering a match at the World Cup in Qatar, according to his agent.

The death of Wahl has left US Soccer "heartbroken." On Twitter, his wife expressed her "complete shock" at the US Soccer statement.

Wahl, a former Sports Illustrated sportswriter who now works for the Substack online publishing platform, had been tweeting about the Netherlands-Argentina match earlier on Friday.

His agent, Tim Scanlan, told that Wahl "appeared to suffer some kind of acute distress in the start of extra time" during the quarter-final match.

Wahl was revived in the press box, according to Scanlan, before being taken by stretcher to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Qatar’s international media office and World Cup organizer, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and legacy, did not immediately respond to media for comment.

"Everyone's emotional and it's really traumatic," Scanlan said. "He was a true advocate for both the men's and women's games and really just cared deeply about the sport. He was empathetic and just truly a brilliant writer."

Wahl wrote on Monday that he had visited a hospital while in Qatar.

"I didn't have Covid (I test regularly here), but I went into the medical clinic at the main media centre today, and they said I probably have bronchitis," he posted on Substack.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Twitter the department had been in close communication with Wahl's family.

"We are working with senior Qatari officials to ensure that his family's wishes are met as soon as possible," Price said.

The news caused an immediate outpouring of grief among the soccer community in the United States.

In response to Wahl's death, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said, "He was a kind and caring person whose passion for soccer and dedication to journalism were immeasurable."

"This is so devastating," Megan Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup winner, said on Twitter. "My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones."