Like the previous year's World Championship twelve teams participated, with defending champions United States and Canada advancing directly to the second-round. The other ten teams split into three preliminary groups for the six remaining second round places. In the preliminary Group C, there was a stalemate among the three teams; all three earned two points with equal goal differentials.
In the current year's tournament, twelve teams participated, and the U.S. and Canada advanced directly to the second round as champions from last year. The remaining ten teams were divided into groups to compete for the six remaining spots in the second round. In Group C, there was a deadlock among the three teams, each earning two points with equal goal differentials.