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 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.

a) disqualified after protest b) aggregate after 3 games