1925–26 National Challenge Cup

The 1925–26 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

History

There were 131 entrants to the tournament. Twenty-five teams (12 western and 13 eastern) were exempt from the qualifying stages because of their relative strength. These included primarily the ASL and St. Louis Soccer League teams. The remaining 106 teams played off for the seven remaining spots in the first round proper. The preliminary qualifying round featured 44 matches with 18 teams receiving byes. Canadian teams were admitted because several outfits from Essex County, Ontario were affiliated with the Michigan Soccer Association which in turn was a member of the USFA.

Eastern Division

First round Second round Semi-finals Final
                           
January 16 - New Bedford            
 New Bedford Whalers  5
February 20 - New Bedford
 Shawsheen Indians  0  
 New Bedford Whalers  0
January 16 - Pawtucket
   J&P Coats  1  
 J&P Coats  4
February 28 - Tiverton
 Abbot Worsted  1  
 J&P Coats  5
January 17 - Tiverton
   Boston SC  3  
 Fall River FC  3
February 14, 21 - Tiverton
 Providence FC  2  
 Fall River FC  1-2
January 16 - Boston
   Boston SC  1-3  
 Boston Soccer Club  2
March 21 - Providence
 Fore River  1  
 J&P Coats  1
January 17, 24 - New York
   Bethlehem Steel  3
 Brooklyn Wanderers  2-3
February 21, 28 - Brooklyn
 Indiana Flooring  2-2  
 Brooklyn Wanderers  2-1
January 17 - Bronx
   New York Giants  2-5  
 New York Giants  9
March 14 - Brooklyn
 Yonkers Thistle  1  
 New York Giants  1
January 17, 24 - Trenton
   Bethlehem Steel  2  
 Trenton F.C.  3-1
February 13 - Philadelphia
 Philadelphia Field Club  3-4  
 Philadelphia Field Club  1
January 17 - Harrison
   Bethlehem Steel  2  
 Newark Skeeters  1
 Bethlehem Steel  5  

Western Division

First round Second round Semi-finals Final
                           
January 17 - Cleveland            
 Cleveland Thistles  1
February 7 - Cleveland
 Clan MacKenzie  2  
 Clan MacKenzie  2a
January 24 - St. Louis
   Ben Millers  0  
 Ben Millers  3
March 7 - St. Louis
 American-Hungarians  1  
 Ben Millers  2
January 17 - St. Louis
   Vesper Buick  0  
 Vesper Buick  7
February 7 - St. Louis
 Royalton Stars  2  
 Vesper Buick  6
January 10 - St. Louis
   Pants Store F.C.  2  
 Pants Store F.C.  2
March 28 - St. Louis
 Wellston  1  
 Ben Millers  2
January 17 - Detroit
   Canadian Club  0
 Gar Wood F.C.  3
February 7, 21 - Chicago
 Canadian Club  4  
 Canadian Club  1-6
January 17 - Chicago
   Olympia F.C.  1-3  
 Olympia F.C.  1
March 1, 14, 21 - Chicago
 Thistles F.C.  0  
 Canadian Club  4b
January 17/ February 7
   Pullman F.C.  1  
 Kenosha Reds  2-0
February 14 - Chicago
 Pullman F.C.  2-4  
 Pullman F.C.  3
January 17, 24 - Chicago
   Bricklayers  1  
 Sparta ABA  1
 Bricklayers  2  

a) disqualified after protest
b) aggregate after 3 games

Final

April 11, 1926
Bethlehem Steel (PA) 7–2 Ben Millers (MO)
6' Archie Stark
20' Archie Stark
53' Archie Stark
55' Johnny Rollo
88' Johnny Jaap
86' Whitey McDonald
35' Malcolm Goldie
(Report)[1] 48' Benjamin Nash
70' Benjamin Nash
Ebbets Field Brooklyn, New York
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Thomas Cunningham (USA)

References

  1. "Title Unknown". Archived from the original on 2009-10-20.