World Cup Reporter Grant Wahl Dead At 48 Days After Detainment For LGBTQ+ Shirt

CBS Sports journalist Grant Wahl — one of the most respected soccer reporters in the country — died while covering the World Cup, his brother announced Friday. He was 48 years old.

Grant was in Qatar when he passed … and Eric Wahl believes foul play was involved, as he claims the reporter was receiving death threats over wearing a rainbow shirt in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

Eric says Grant had zero health issues … explaining in a heartbreaking Instagram video, “I do not believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed.”

As we previously reported, Wahl was detained for nearly 30 minutes after World Cup security on Nov. 21 … after he showed up to Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Qatar for the United States’ first tournament game against Wales.

To show his support for the LGBTQ+ community in a country where homosexuality is illegal, he wore a shirt with a soccer ball and a rainbow pattern.

At the time, Eric praised his brother and denounced soccer’s governing body … saying, “Shame on @FIFA for losing all control over this corrupt World Cup.”