Grant D. Wahl ’96

Grant, a beloved member of the class, died Dec. 9, 2022, of an aortic aneurysm while covering the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Grant grew up in Mission, Kan., where he attended Shawnee Mission East High School. He began his time on campus as a member of Rockefeller College and later joined Colonial Club, where he met his wife, Céline Gounder ’97. Grant studied politics at Princeton, and it was his friendship with soccer coach Bob Bradley ’80 and research for his award-winning senior thesis, “Playing the Political Game: Soccer Clubs in Argentine Civil Society,” that sparked his love for soccer. He shared this enthusiasm through his writing for The Daily Princetonian. He served as co-editor of the sports pages during his senior year.

After Princeton, Grant had an illustrious  24-year career with Sports Illustrated, then started his own Substack, “Fútbol with Grant Wahl.” He did television work for CBS Sports and Fox Sports and authored two books: The Beckham Experiment, a New York Times bestseller; and Masters of Modern Soccer. 

Grant brought his passion for politics,  his gift for writing, and his deep concern for justice together in all forms of journalism to further the cause of gender equality and  human rights. 

Grant was known for his kindness and generosity. Grant was a mentor to many young journalists, giving generously of his time to answer questions and to help them develop their craft. In the process, he deepened the sense of community in his field and inspired generations of future journalists.

Grant is survived by his wife, Céline ’97; and his brother, Eric. The class sends its deepest condolences to Céline, Grant’s family and hers, and all who loved him.