The following are the football (soccer) events of the year 1917 throughout the world.

Due to the First World War several leagues remain suspended throughout Europe.

• Full date unknown:
  • C.D. Palhavã, a Portuguese football club from, Palhavã is founded.^[1]

• Argentina: Racing Club
• Austria: Rapid Vienna
• Belgium: no national championship
• Denmark: KB
• England: no national championship
• France: no national championship
• Germany: no national championship
• Hungary: MTK Hungária FC
• Iceland: Fram
• Italy: no national championship
• Luxembourg: US Hollerich
• Netherlands: Go Ahead
• Paraguay: Club Libertad
• Scotland:
  • Division One: Celtic F.C.
  • Scottish Cup: No competition^[2]
• Sweden: Djurgårdens IF
• Uruguay: Nacional
• Greece: 1913 to 1921 - no championship titles due to the First World War and the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922.

• 1917 Far Eastern Championship Games (May 9–11, 1917)

China

• South American Championship 1917 in Uruguay (September 30, 1917 – October 14, 1917)

 Uruguay

• April 23 – Walter Warning, German professional footballer^[3]
• June 8 – Zvonimir Koceić, Croation footballer (died 1997)^[4]
• September 20 – Obdulio Varela, Uruguayan international footballer (died 1996)
• October 12 – Roque Máspoli, Uruguayan international footballer (died 2004)
• December 12 – Fred Stansfield, Welsh international footballer (died 2014)

• August 10 - Jimmy Speirs, Scottish footballer and scorer of 1911 FA Cup Final winning goal