Phillip B. Wilson

IndyStar

As speculation intensifies about Qatar possibly being stripped of the 2022 World Cup, an ESPN report suggested the United States could be back in the hunt as host.

In that scenario, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis could be one of the American venues — but don't get too excited just yet.

While Indiana Sports Corp. spokesman John Dedman confirmed Indianapolis is on the U.S. Soccer Federation's list of 18 potential sites, he said no talks have begun on the subject.

And Neil Buethe, U.S. Soccer director of communications, denounced an ESPN report that his organization has been told by FIFA to "be ready" if Qatar is stripped.

"That report is not accurate," Buethe wrote in an email Friday. "FIFA has not approached U.S. Soccer about the 2022 World Cup in any capacity."

FIFA is reportedly awaiting an investigation into the bidding process that awarded the 2018 event to Russia and 2022's Cup to Qatar.

"As of right now, we haven't heard anything on our local level that the U.S. would be awarded this and that it's open for discussion," Dedman said.

Even if the U.S. were to be awarded the World Cup, Dedman advised that U.S. Soccer would go through an extensive process to narrow the list of 18 sites. There's no guarantee Indianapolis would make the final list.

The 1994 World Cup in the U.S. still ranks as the best-attended event, and that was with fewer games. The tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1998.

Qatar is facing allegations of corruption and bribery to get the games and the country has come under international scrutiny for the deaths of as many as 1,000 migrant workers in the construction process.

Call Star reporter Phillip B. Wilson at (317) 444-6642. Follow him on Twitter: @pwilson24.