The 1997 FIFA U-17 World Championship, the seventh edition of the tournament, was held in the cities of Cairo, Ismailia, Alexandria, and Port Said in Egypt from 4 to 21 September 1997. Players born after 1 January 1980 could participate in this tournament.
David of Spain won the Golden Shoe award for scoring seven goals. In total, 117 goals were scored by 73 different players, with only one of them credited as own goal.