Ep 64 | Remembering Grant Wahl & Being Detained at World Cup Qatar 2022 w/ FFT Brian Davis

World Cup 2022 was a bizarre story that began in 2010, over a decade before the tournament even kicked off.  It was (still is we suppose) a story centered on corruption, human rights, and a gaudy display of power and wealth. It was also a bizarre experience on the ground, for fans, journalists, and even the teams playing (probably). It was made even more bizarre for American fans, and in particular fans, friends, and family of journalist Grant Wahl after Grant collapsed in the press box of the Argentina/Netherlands quarterfinal, and was later pronounced dead at Hamad General Hospital. Anyone who knew Grant, or at least his journalism, knows that he was a special human. He was an advocate, and before his death was famously detained outside Al Bayt Stadium early on at World Cup 2022 for wearing a rainbow on his t-shirt. But Grant wasn't the only person who experienced this. In today's episode, we hear from Brian Davis, a fellow footy traveler who had met Grant through US Soccer circles, and who had a similar experience in Qatar.

Part 1:

0:49 | Death & taxes

2:27 | Recalling the 'scandals' of World Cup Qatar 2022

3:44 | Grant Wahl's final reports

8:53 | How to get your wife to an away WCQ

15:01 | Meeting Fernando Fiore and Rob Stone

17:15 | Meeting Grant Wahl

Part 2: 

21:19 | Sharing Grant's experience with rainbows in Qatar

24:10 | Things get physical

30:10 | The State Department is calling

 

Foot(y)notes:

• Grant Wahl's "Qatar Chronicles" leading up to World Cup 2022: Part 1 and Part 2
  
  
• Grant's original Tweet about getting held up outside Ahmed bin Ali Stadium ahead of USA v Wales
  
  
• Grant's brother Eric's video reaction to news of Grant's death
  
  
• Rob Stone's touching tribute to Grant on Fox's WC22 broadcast
  
  
• Dr. Céline Gounder's (Grant's wife) explanation of Grant's cause of death
  
  
• Coming in June: The best of Grant Wahl