Indianapolis Colts Back New MLS Expansion Bid

The Indianapolis Colts have signaled support for bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to the city.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Soccer

Indianapolis Colts Back New MLS Expansion Bid

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The Indianapolis Colts have announced their support for bringing a Major League Soccer team to Indianapolis. This endorsement arrives as city leaders pursue stadium development goals and a potential MLS expansion franchise.

Why it matters

The Colts' cooperation adds significant credibility to the city's bid for an MLS franchise. This partnership is viewed as essential for driving local infrastructure development and hosting future global athletic competitions.

Indianapolis is currently one of approximately 20 U.S. cities under consideration to host games for the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. The city plans to finalize the construction of a new stadium near Lucas Oil Stadium by 2031.

The players

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team that competes in the National Football League.

Don Garber

Don Garber is the Commissioner of Major League Soccer who has served in the role since 1999.

Joe Hogsett

Joe Hogsett is the current Mayor of Indianapolis who has served in the position since 2016.

Ersal Ozdemir

Ersal Ozdemir is the founder and owner of the Indy Eleven professional soccer club based in Indianapolis.

The details

City leaders recently met with MLS Commissioner Don Garber in New York to discuss the potential expansion and current stadium requirements. While the Colts support the move, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has publicly expressed opposition to Ersal Ozdemir, owner of the Indy Eleven, leading the initiative.

City leaders held a meeting with the MLS commissioner in New York three weeks ago.
Construction for the new stadium in Indianapolis is targeted for completion by 2031.

Season Trajectory

The push for a new stadium is directly tied to the city's effort to meet venue requirements for the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. This development initiative follows a pattern set by the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup, forcing local leadership to secure high-level professional sports partnerships to validate the city's host potential.

The construction of a new stadium near Lucas Oil Stadium will likely impact local traffic and urban development in the district leading up to 2031. Residents should anticipate significant changes to the city's sports infrastructure as municipal leaders attempt to land both an MLS franchise and World Cup matches.

The takeaway

The Colts' involvement signals a unified push toward major stadium expansion in Indianapolis. This coalition could fundamentally alter the city's sports infrastructure and capacity to host large-scale global events by 2031.