1926 National Challenge Cup

The 1926 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 due to the fact that several outfits from Essex County, Ontario were affiliated with the Michigan Soccer Association which in turn was a member of the USFA.

Open Cup Bracket

"Home teams listed on top of bracket"32TeamBracket | RD1=First Round
Jan 10-24
RD2=Second Round
Feb 7-21
RD3=Quarterfinals
Feb 28-Mar 21
RD4=Semifinals
March 21,28
RD5=Final
April 11

RD1-seed01=NJ
RD1-team01=Newark Skeeters
RD1-score01=1
RD1-seed02=PA
RD1-team02=Bethlehem Steel
RD1-score02=5

RD1-seed03=NJ
RD1-team03=Trenton F.C.
RD1-score03=3-1
RD1-seed04=PA
RD1-team04=Philadelphia Field Club
RD1-score04=3-4

RD1-seed05=NY
RD1-team05=Indiana Flooring
RD1-score05=2-2
RD1-seed06=NY
RD1-team06=Brooklyn Wanderers
RD1-score06=2-3*

RD1-seed07=NY
RD1-team07=New York Giants
RD1-score07=9
RD1-seed08=NY
RD1-team08=Yonkers Thistle
RD1-score08=1

RD1-seed09=RI
RD1-team09=J&P Coats
RD1-score09=4
RD1-seed10=MA
RD1-team10=Abbot Worsted
RD1-score10=1

RD1-seed11=MA
RD1-team11= New Bedford Whalers
RD1-score11=5
RD1-seed12=MA
RD1-team12=Shawsheen Indians
RD1-score12=2

RD1-seed13=MA
RD1-team13= Fall River Marksmen
RD1-score13=3
RD1-seed14=RI
RD1-team14=Providence Clamdiggers
RD1-score14=2

RD1-seed15=MA
RD1-team15= Boston Wonder Workers
RD1-score15=2
RD1-seed16=MA
RD1-team16=Fore River
RD1-score16=1

RD1-seed17=MI
RD1-team17=Gar Wood F.C.
RD1-score17=3
RD1-seed18=IL
RD1-team18=Canadian Club
RD1-score18=4

RD1-seed19=IL
RD1-team19=Olympia F.C.
RD1-score19=1
RD1-seed20=IL
RD1-team20=Thistles F.C.
RD1-score20=0

RD1-seed21=WI
RD1-team21=Kenosha Reds
RD1-score21=2-0
RD1-seed22=IL
RD1-team22=Pullman F.C.
RD1-score22=2-4

RD1-seed23=IL
RD1-team23= Bricklayers and Masons
RD1-score23=2
RD1-seed24=IL
RD1-team24=Chicago Sparta
RD1-score24=1

RD1-seed25=OH
RD1-team25=Cleveland Thistle
RD1-score25=1
RD1-seed26=OH
RD1-team26=Clan MacKenzie
RD1-score26=2

RD1-seed27=MO
RD1-team27=Ben Millers
RD1-score27=3
RD1-seed28=OH
RD1-team28=American-Hungarians
RD1-score28=1

RD1-seed29=MO
RD1-team29=Vesper Buick
RD1-score29=7
RD1-seed30=IL
RD1-team30=Royalton Stars
RD1-score30=2

RD1-seed31=MO
RD1-team31=Pants Store F.C.
RD1-score31=2
RD1-seed32=MO
RD1-team32=Wellston
RD1-score32=1

RD2-seed01=PA
RD2-team01=Bethlehem Steel
RD2-score01=2
RD2-seed02=PA
RD2-team02=Philadelphia Field Club
RD2-score02=1

RD2-seed03=NY
RD2-team03=Brooklyn Wanderers
RD2-score03=2-1
RD2-seed04=NY
RD2-team04=New York Giants
RD2-score04=2-5*

RD2-seed05=MA
RD2-team05=New Bedford Whalers
RD2-score05=0
RD2-seed06=RI
RD2-team06=J&P Coats
RD2-score06=1

RD2-seed07=MA
RD2-team07=Fall River Marksmen
RD2-score07=1-2
RD2-seed08=MA
RD2-team08=Boston Wonder Workers
RD2-score08=1-3*

RD2-seed09=IL
RD2-team09=Canadian Club
RD2-score09=1-6
RD2-seed10=IL
RD2-team10=Olympia F.C.
RD2-score10=1-3

RD2-seed11=IL
RD2-team11=Pullman F.C.
RD2-score11=3
RD2-seed12=IL
RD2-team12=Bricklayers and Masons
RD2-score12=1

RD2-seed13=OH
RD2-team13=Clan MacKenzie
RD2-score13=2
RD2-seed14=MO
RD2-team14=Ben Millers
RD2-score14=0

RD2-seed15=MO
RD2-team15=Vesper Buick
RD2-score15=6
RD2-seed16=MO
RD2-team16=Pants Store F.C.
RD2-score16=2

RD3-seed01=PA
RD3-team01=Bethlehem Steel
RD3-score01=2
RD3-seed02=NY
RD3-team02= New York Giants
RD3-score02=1

RD3-seed03=RI
RD3-team03=J&P Coats
RD3-score03=5
RD3-seed04=MA
RD3-team04=Boston Wonder Workers
RD3-score04=3

RD3-seed05=IL
RD3-team05=Canadian Club
RD3-score05=0-1-3
RD3-seed06=IL
RD3-team06=Pullman F.C.
RD3-score06=0-1-0

RD3-seed07=MO
RD3-team07=Ben Millers
RD3-score07=2
RD3-seed08=MO
RD3-team08=Vesper Buick
RD3-score08=0

RD4-seed01=PA
RD4-team01=Bethlehem Steel
RD4-score01=3
RD4-seed02=RI
RD4-team02=J&P Coats
RD4-score02=1

RD4-seed03=MO
RD4-team03=Ben Millers
RD4-score03=2
RD4-seed04=IL
RD4-team04=Canadian Club
RD4-score04=0

RD5-seed01=PA
RD5-team01=Bethlehem Steel
RD5-score01=7
RD5-seed02=MO
RD5-team02=Ben Millers
RD5-score02=2

(*): replay after tied match
w/o: walkover/forfeit victory awarded

Final

footballbox
date = April 11, 1926
team1 = Bethlehem Steel (PA)
goals1 = Archie Stark
Archie Stark
Archie Stark
Johnny Rollo
Johnny Jaap
Whitey McDonald
Malcolm Goldie
goals2 = Benjamin Nash
Benjamin Nash
score = 7–2
report = [http://www.geocities.com/bethlehem_soccer/gl041226.html (Report)]
team2 = Ben Millers (MO)
stadium = Ebbets Field Brooklyn, New York
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Thomas Cunningham (USA)