The competition was contested by the 35 member clubs of the Northern Ireland Football League, commencing on 31 July 2021 with the first round and concluding with the final on 13 March 2022.
[1] The cup returned this season after a one-year hiatus, following the cancellation of the 2020–21 competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland.
The competition was open to the 35 members of the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL).
Usually, the 16 highest-ranked clubs from the previous league season are exempt from entering until the second round, where they are seeded to avoid being drawn against each other.
The top 16 league clubs from the previous season were seeded in this round in order to avoid drawing each other.
[2] Ards (2) Ballinamallard United (2) Ballymena United (1) Carrick Rangers (1) Cliftonville (1) Coleraine (1) Crusaders (1) Dungannon Swifts (1) Glenavon (1) Glentoran (1) Institute (2) Larne (1) Linfield (1) Loughgall (2) Portadown (1) Warrenpoint Town (1) Annagh United (2) Armagh City (3) Ballyclare Comrades (2) Banbridge Town (3) Bangor (3) Dergview (2) Dollingstown (3) Dundela (2) Harland & Wolff Welders (2) Limavady United (3) Lisburn Distillery (3) Moyola Park (3) Newington (3) Newry City (2) Portstewart (3)