The 1997 season was the sixth full year of competitive football in the Baltic country as an independent nation. The Estonia national football team continued in the qualifying tournament for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. The team ended up in fifth place in the final ranking of group 4, with one win, one draw and eight losses.
^This match was originally scheduled for 9 October 1996 but was not played because the Estonia team did not arrive at the time appointed by FIFA. The Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup decided the match should be rescheduled.
^Third goal of Marko Kristal in 51 international matches for Estonia.
^Fifth goal of Indrek Zelinski in 19 international matches for Estonia.
^Sixth goal of Indrek Zelinski in 21 international matches for Estonia.