DOHA, December 10, 2022 - I met Grant Wahl during our “Journalists on the Podium” ceremony on November 29 in the “Virtual Stadium” of the Main Press Centre in Doha. He came to thank me for the initiative with a frank, open smile. In the article, which he then wrote on his website, he explained exactly the value of this type of ceremonies, which are not useless, but serve to strengthen ties and principles, which currently appear to be fading. I was very pleased with his opinion, because it came from a young journalist.
GREEN AND MODERN At 48, he was green, modern and committed, the true freelancer of the third millennium. To tell the truth, some colleagues, sometimes suspicious and doubtful, had asked me how such a young man could have covered 8 World Cups as a journalist. Simply because he started very young, which sadly doesn't happen anymore, and he was a son of the 1994 Cup in the United States. Someone had also wondered how Enrique Macaya managed to have 17, that is sixty years of the Cup, he too was young at the beginning of his highly honoured career. But suspicion is part of the background of many colleagues, it is an instrument of work.
I liked Grant's open smile and ability to always be himself, a skill that is becoming rare.
POLITE AND PUNCTUAL His first contact with us had been through our young colleague Azra Isic, who was in charge of liaising with all the 82 journalists that registered for recognition, and he was polite and punctual with her at all times. Also, this is an important gift, which unfortunately many have left in their memory drawer. Azra cried when she heard the news, and I understand that, because Grant was a modern old-fashioned reporter.
ALWAYS WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE Aside from Journalists on the Podium, Grant was always willing to help with any contribution. One of them was for the FIFA World Cup 2022 preview where different journalists from the participating countries shared their opinions.
This was what Grant Wahl had to say about the USA team: "The United States is the second-youngest team in the tournament (just behind Ghana), and it's trying to regain respect from the wider soccer world after failing to qualify for Russia 2018. Advancing from the group stage is the expectation, and it will be considered a significant disappointment if that doesn't happen. These young Americans play at bigger European clubs than previous USA teams have done. Christian Pulisic has won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, and he's joined by Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Tyler Adams (Leeds United), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Sergiño Dest (Milan) and others who play in the European game. Because the U.S. team is young, there is a wide variability in performance. The high point came in a 2-0 win against Mexico in World Cup qualifying, but the team struggled in September during the final friendlies before the World Cup. There is a feeling that this 2022 tournament is a bit of a dress rehearsal for a potential deep run that this generation could make as a co-host of the World Cup in 2026."
