The 1997 MLS Expansion Draft was held November 6, 1997.
Two teams participated, the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion F.C., both expansion Major League Soccer clubs starting play in the 1998 season.
Each team in the league made ten players, including at least one foreign player, available for the Fire and Fusion to select.
Although Paul Caligiuri of the Los Angeles Galaxy was listed as exposed, he had recently won a lawsuit against the league which forced the league to place him with the Galaxy as his original contract with the league had stipulated.
The Fire won the first selection through a coin toss.