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Bulgaria national football team facts for kids

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Bulgaria
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Лъвовете / Lavovete
(The Lions)
Трикольорите / Trikolyorite
(The Tricolours)
Association Bulgarian Football Union (BFU)
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Ilian Iliev
Captain Kiril Despodov
Most caps Stiliyan Petrov (105)
Top scorer Dimitar Berbatov
Hristo Bonev (48)
Home stadium Various
FIFA code BUL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 48 Decrease 2 (7 February 2019)
Highest 8 (June 1995)
Lowest 96 (May 2012)
Elo ranking
Current 50 Increase 4 (3 March 2019)
Highest 3 (August 1975)
Lowest 82 (15 November 2020)
First international
 Austria 6–0 Bulgaria 
(Vienna, Austria; 21 May 1924)
Biggest win
 Singapore 2–10 Bulgaria 
(Singapore; 13 December 1956)
Biggest defeat
 Spain 13–0 Bulgaria 
(Madrid, Spain; 21 May 1933)
World Cup
Appearances 7 (first in 1962)
Best result Fourth place (1994)
European Championship
Appearances 2 (first in 1996)
Best result Group stage (1996, 2004)
Medal record
Olympic Games
Silver 1968 Mexico City Team
Bronze 1956 Melbourne Team
Balkan Cup
Gold 1931 Bulgaria Team
Gold 1932 Yugoslavia Team
Gold 1973–76 Europe Team
Silver 1935 Bulgaria Team
Silver 1936 Romania Team
Bronze 1933 Romania Team

The Bulgaria national football team represents Bulgaria in international men's football games. The team is managed by the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU), which is part of UEFA, the European football organization.

Bulgaria's best results include winning a silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics. They also finished fourth at the FIFA World Cup in 1994. The team has played in seven World Cups, starting in 1962. They have also played in two European Championships, in 1996 and 2004. The 2004 tournament was their most recent big competition. Bulgaria has also won the Balkan Cup three times.

History of Bulgarian Football

Early Years (1922–1945)

The Bulgaria national football team started in 1922. The Bulgarian Football Union was created in 1923. Their first match was on May 21, 1924, in Vienna, where they lost 6–0 to Austria. A few days later, Bulgaria also played in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.

For almost 30 years, Bulgaria did not qualify for any major tournaments like the World Cup. They often came close, finishing second or third in their qualifying groups. However, they did win smaller tournaments like the Balkan Cup three times: in 1931, 1932, and 1973–76. This made them the second most successful team in that competition.

Success in the 1960s and 1970s

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-N0615-0022, Fußball-WM, Schweden - Bulgarien 0-0
Bulgaria played against Sweden in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

Bulgaria played in the World Cup for the first time in 1962. They then played in three more World Cups in a row: 1966, 1970, and 1974. However, they didn't have much success in these tournaments, usually finishing third in their group.

In the qualifiers for the European Championship in 1968, Bulgaria won their group. They beat teams like Norway, Sweden, and Portugal. They lost to Italy in a play-off, and Italy went on to win the tournament.

At the 1968 Summer Olympics, the team won a silver medal. They won their group by beating Thailand 7–0 and Guatemala 2–1, and drawing 2–2 with Czechoslovakia. They then beat Israel and the host team Mexico to reach the final. In the final, they lost to Hungary but still earned a silver medal.

Bulgaria also won the Balkan Cup in 1973 and 1976. They used their World Cup experience to play very strategically. This helped them win against teams like Hungary, Greece, Turkey, and Romania. In the 1976 final, they beat Romania over two games.

In the 1962 World Cup, Bulgaria was in a tough group with England, Argentina, and Hungary. They lost to Argentina and Hungary, but managed a 0–0 draw with England. They finished last in their group.

For the 1966 World Cup, Bulgaria was in an even tougher group with Hungary, Portugal (with Eusebio), and Brazil (with Pelé). They lost all three matches and finished last in their group again.

After their World Cup struggles, Bulgaria tried to do better in the Euro 1968 qualifiers. They won their group, but lost to Italy in a play-off. Italy then won the tournament.

Georgi Asparuhov 1969
Georgi Asparuhov was a legendary Bulgarian player. He helped Bulgaria reach four World Cups and the 1968 Olympic final.

A month and a half after the Euro qualifiers, Bulgaria played in the Olympics for the fifth time. They were in a group with Thailand, Guatemala, and Czechoslovakia. They beat Thailand 7–0 and Guatemala 2–1, and drew with Czechoslovakia. They won their group and moved to the quarter-finals. They beat Israel and then Mexico to reach the final. In the final, they lost 1–4 to Hungary, but still won the silver medal.

Bulgaria qualified for their third World Cup in a row in 1970, held in Mexico. They were in a difficult group with Germany, Peru, and Morocco. They lost to Peru and Germany, and drew with Morocco, finishing third in their group.

The 1974 World Cup was in West Germany. Bulgaria was in a group with the Netherlands, Sweden, and Uruguay. They drew their first two matches against Sweden and Uruguay. They lost their final match 4–1 and finished third in the group.

The Golden Generation (1986–2000)

Bulgaria qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. They finished second in their group, ahead of strong teams like Yugoslavia and East Germany. This was their fifth World Cup appearance. They were in a group with Italy, Argentina, and South Korea. They drew 1–1 with Italy and South Korea. They lost 2–0 to Argentina, who went on to win the tournament. Even without a win, Bulgaria moved to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams. In the Round of 16, they lost 2–0 to Mexico.

WorldCup1994BulgariaOverGermany
Bulgarian players celebrating their victory over Germany in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals.
Stoichkov in 2016
Hristo Stoichkov was a key player for Bulgaria, helping them reach the 1994 World Cup semi-finals.

A very important moment in Bulgarian football was on November 17, 1993. Emil Kostadinov scored a goal in the last minute against France in Paris. This win allowed Bulgaria to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Led by coach Dimitar Penev and players like Hristo Stoichkov, Yordan Lechkov, and Krasimir Balakov, known as the "Golden Generation", Bulgaria surprised everyone by reaching the semi-finals.

They were in a tough group with 1990 World Cup runners-up Argentina, African champions Nigeria, and Greece. They lost their first match 3–0 to Nigeria. But then, they made a big statement by beating Greece 4–0, which was their first ever World Cup win. Their last group match was against Argentina, and Bulgaria won 2–0. This meant Argentina dropped to third place in the group.

Bulgaria went on to the Round of 16, where they played Mexico. The game ended 1–1, and Bulgaria won 3–1 in a penalty shootout. Their goalkeeper, Borislav Mihaylov, saved the first three penalties, setting a World Cup record. In the quarter-finals, Bulgaria faced the defending world champions, Germany. Germany scored first, but Bulgaria came back with a free kick from Hristo Stoichkov and a header from Yordan Lechkov to win 2–1. In the semi-finals, they lost 2–1 to Italy. Stoichkov scored Bulgaria's only goal. Bulgaria finished fourth in the tournament, their best ever performance.

Hristo Stoichkov was the top scorer in the tournament with six goals, sharing the World Cup Golden Boot award. He also won the 1994 Ballon d'Or award later that year.

In 1996, the team qualified for the European Championship for the first time. They were in a group with France, Spain, and Romania. They drew 1–1 with Spain and beat Romania 1–0. In their last group match, they lost 3–1 to France and were eliminated.

Bulgaria qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France by winning their group, beating teams like Russia. They were in a group with Spain, Nigeria, and Paraguay. They drew 0–0 with Paraguay, lost 1–0 to Nigeria, and lost 6–1 to Spain. Bulgaria finished last in their group. This was their last World Cup appearance.

Bulgaria did not qualify for Euro 2000. They finished fourth in their qualifying group.

Recent Years (Early 21st Century to Present)

Bulgaria did not qualify for the 2002 World Cup. They finished third in their tough group, which included Denmark and Czech Republic. This group was also where Bulgaria's top scorer, Dimitar Berbatov, made his debut.

Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov training in Bulgaria. He led the team to their last major tournament, Euro 2004.

Bulgaria did qualify for Euro 2004 in Portugal. They won their qualifying group, beating teams like Croatia and Belgium. In the tournament, they were in a group with Sweden, Italy, and Denmark. Bulgaria lost all three group matches.

Bulgaria did not qualify for the 2006 World Cup. They finished third in their qualifying group.

In 2006, Bulgaria played in the Kirin Cup in Japan. They beat Japan 2–1 but lost 5–1 to Scotland. Bulgaria finished as runners-up.

Bulgaria did not qualify for Euro 2008. They finished third in their qualifying group, just behind the Netherlands.

Bulgaria national football team 2010
The Bulgaria national football team in 2010.

Bulgaria did not qualify for the 2010 World Cup. They finished third in their group.

Bulgaria finished last in their group for Euro 2012 qualification.

For the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Bulgaria showed some improvement under coach Lyuboslav Penev. They drew 2–2 with Italy and beat Armenia 1–0. They also drew with Denmark and Czech Republic. These results helped them climb in the FIFA World Rankings. However, after some poor results later on, they failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Bulgarian national football team
The national team in 2012.

Bulgaria did not qualify for Euro 2016 in France. They had some tough losses, which led to a change in manager.

In the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, Bulgaria had a strong group with the Netherlands, France, and Sweden. They started with a 4–3 win against Luxembourg. They also had impressive wins, beating the Netherlands 2–0 and Sweden 3–2 at home. However, they lost other key matches and did not qualify.

Recent Challenges (2018–Present)

In the UEFA Nations League C, Bulgaria finished second in their group.

For Euro 2020 qualifiers, Bulgaria was in a group with England and Czech Republic. They had some draws and losses. Even though they finished fourth, they had another chance to qualify through the Nations League play-offs. However, they lost 1–3 to Hungary in their play-off match and were eliminated.

In the League B, Bulgaria faced Wales, Finland, and Republic of Ireland. They had several close matches, but often conceded late goals. They ended up without a win and were moved down to League C.

For the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Bulgaria started poorly with losses to Switzerland and Italy. They improved with draws against Northern Ireland and Italy. They beat Lithuania at home but lost away, ending their qualification hopes.

In the 2022–23 Nations League, Bulgaria was in League C. They drew with North Macedonia and lost heavily to Georgia. The coach resigned, and a new manager, Mladen Krstajić, was appointed. Under him, Bulgaria won against Gibraltar and North Macedonia, finishing second in their group.

Bulgaria had a difficult Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, finishing in the lower half of their group. This led to Ilian Iliev becoming the new manager. Under Iliev, Bulgaria has remained unbeaten in all their matches for nearly a year, drawing 2–2 with Serbia and Hungary.

In the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League C, Bulgaria finished second in their group. They then played against the Republic of Ireland in play-off matches for promotion to League B. Bulgaria lost both matches 2–1 and did not get promoted.

Team Appearance and Identity

Bulgaria's traditional colors are white, green, and red. These colors come from the country's flag. The team usually wears white shirts, green shorts, and red socks. Their away kits are often red.

Their nickname is "The Lions." This name honors the lions shown on the coat of arms of Bulgaria.

Fan Behavior and Rules

Sometimes, a small group of fans, called ultras, have caused problems with racist chants. Football organizations like UEFA have strict rules against racism. When these incidents happen, the Bulgarian Football Union has been fined. Parts of the stadium have also been closed for matches. Officials have even stopped games because of racist behavior. Police have identified and arrested fans responsible for such actions.

UEFA's president has spoken out against racism in football. He has asked everyone in the football community and governments to fight against it.

Home Stadiums

The main home stadium for the Bulgaria national football team is the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia. It can hold 44,000 people. This stadium opened in 1953 and has been updated several times. It's the second largest stadium in Bulgaria. Many important matches are played here, including Bulgarian Cup finals and big derby games.

The Huvepharma Arena in Razgrad has also hosted some national team matches since 2018. It has a capacity of 10,422.

Recently, the national team has also played at the newly renovated Hristo Botev Stadium in Plovdiv. This stadium can hold 18,777 fans.

Images for kids

Recent Match Results

Here are some of the recent match results for the Bulgaria national football team.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2024 Matches

  • September 5:  Belarus 0–0  Bulgaria (UEFA Nations League C) - Draw
  • September 8:  Bulgaria 1–0  Northern Ireland (UEFA Nations League C) - Win
  • October 12:  Bulgaria 0–0  Luxembourg (UEFA Nations League C) - Draw
  • October 15:  Northern Ireland 5–0  Bulgaria (UEFA Nations League C) - Loss
  • November 15:  Luxembourg 0–1  Bulgaria (UEFA Nations League C) - Win
  • November 18:  Bulgaria 1–1  Belarus (UEFA Nations League C) - Draw

2025 Matches

  • March 20:  Bulgaria 1–2  Republic of Ireland (UEFA Nations League Play-off) - Loss
  • March 23:  Republic of Ireland 2–1  Bulgaria (UEFA Nations League Play-off) - Loss
  • June 6:  Bulgaria 2–2  Cyprus (Friendly) - Draw
  • June 10:  Greece 4–0  Bulgaria (Friendly) - Loss
  • September 4:  Bulgaria vs.  Spain (2026 FIFA World Cup qualification) - Upcoming
  • September 7:  Georgia vs.  Bulgaria (2026 FIFA World Cup qualification) - Upcoming
  • October 11:  Bulgaria vs.  Turkey (2026 FIFA World Cup qualification) - Upcoming
  • October 14:  Spain vs.  Bulgaria (2026 FIFA World Cup qualification) - Upcoming
  • November 15:  Turkey vs.  Bulgaria (2026 FIFA World Cup qualification) - Upcoming
  • November 18:  Bulgaria vs.  Georgia (2026 FIFA World Cup qualification) - Upcoming

Coaching Staff

Ilian Iliev in 2020
Current manager Ilian Iliev.
Role Name
Head coach Bulgaria Ilian Iliev
Assistant coach Bulgaria Petar Kostadinov
Assistant coach Bulgaria Georgi Donkov
Goalkeeping coach Bulgaria Zdravko Zdravkov
Analyst Bulgaria Atanas Ribarski
Fitness coach Bulgaria Yasen Lyubenov
Recovery coach Bulgaria Nikola Izpoldzhiyski
GPS analyst Bulgaria Alex Mihalev
Doctor Bulgaria Zdravko Taralov

Coaching History

Many coaches have led the Bulgarian national team over the years. Some famous names include Dimitar Penev, who coached the "Golden Generation" in 1994, and Hristo Stoichkov, a legendary player who later became a coach. The current head coach is Ilian Iliev.

Team Players

Current Squad

These players were chosen for the friendly games against Cyprus (June 6, 2025) and Greece (June 10, 2025).

Caps (games played) and goals are updated as of June 10, 2025, after the match against Greece.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Mitov, DimitarDimitar Mitov (1997-01-22) 22 January 1997 (age 28) 11 0 Scotland Aberdeen
21 1GK Vutsov, SvetoslavSvetoslav Vutsov (2002-07-09) 9 July 2002 (age 23) 7 0 Bulgaria Levski Sofia
23 1GK Sheytanov, DimitarDimitar Sheytanov (1999-03-15) 15 March 1999 (age 26) 1 0 Bulgaria CSKA 1948

2 2DF Popov, ViktorViktor Popov (2000-03-05) 5 March 2000 (age 25) 23 0 Poland Korona Kielce
3 2DF Petrov, HristiyanHristiyan Petrov (2002-06-24) 24 June 2002 (age 23) 6 0 Netherlands Heerenveen
14 2DF Nedyalkov, AntonAnton Nedyalkov (1993-04-30) 30 April 1993 (age 32) 33 0 Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad
15 2DF Petrov, SimeonSimeon Petrov (2000-01-12) 12 January 2000 (age 25) 12 0 Hungary Fehérvár
18 2DF Nürnberger, FabianFabian Nürnberger (1999-07-28) 28 July 1999 (age 26) 8 0 Germany Darmstadt 98
20 2DF Minkov, NikolayNikolay Minkov (1997-08-13) 13 August 1997 (age 27) 3 0 Bulgaria Botev Plovdiv
24 2DF Bozhinov, RosenRosen Bozhinov (2005-01-23) 23 January 2005 (age 20) 0 0 Belgium Antwerp

4 3MF Gruev, IliaIlia Gruev (2000-05-06) 6 May 2000 (age 25) 22 0 England Leeds United
8 3MF Kraev, AndrianAndrian Kraev (1999-02-14) 14 February 1999 (age 26) 13 1 Portugal Casa Pia
16 3MF Petkov, MarinMarin Petkov (2003-10-02) 2 October 2003 (age 21) 16 3 Bulgaria Levski Sofia
17 3MF Milanov, GeorgiGeorgi Milanov (1992-02-19) 19 February 1992 (age 33) 52 2 Romania Dinamo București
22 3MF Iliev Jr., IlianIlian Iliev Jr. (1999-08-20) 20 August 1999 (age 25) 21 0 Bulgaria CSKA Sofia
26 3MF Shopov, StanislavStanislav Shopov (2002-02-23) 23 February 2002 (age 23) 5 0 Croatia Osijek

7 4FW Rusev, GeorgiGeorgi Rusev (1998-07-02) 2 July 1998 (age 27) 19 1 Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad
9 4FW Kolev, AleksandarAleksandar Kolev (1992-12-08) 8 December 1992 (age 32) 13 2 China Nantong Zhiyun
10 4FW Kraev, BozhidarBozhidar Kraev (1997-06-23) 23 June 1997 (age 28) 27 3 Australia Western Sydney Wanderers
11 4FW Minchev, MartinMartin Minchev (2001-04-22) 22 April 2001 (age 24) 23 0 Poland Cracovia
19 4FW Nikolov, VladimirVladimir Nikolov (2001-02-07) 7 February 2001 (age 24) 4 0 Poland Korona Kielce
25 4FW Petkov, LukasLukas Petkov (2000-11-01) 1 November 2000 (age 24) 7 0 Germany SV Elversberg

Other Players Called Up Recently

These players have also been called up to the Bulgarian team in the last 12 months and could be chosen again.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Iliev, PlamenPlamen Iliev (1991-11-30) 30 November 1991 (age 33) 21 0 Bulgaria Cherno More v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
GK Dyulgerov, IvanIvan Dyulgerov (1999-07-15) 15 July 1999 (age 26) 6 0 Moldova Sheriff Tiraspol v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025

DF Dimitrov, KristianKristian Dimitrov (1997-02-27) 27 February 1997 (age 28) 18 1 Bulgaria Levski Sofia v.  Greece, 10 June 2025INJ
DF Petkov, AleksAleks Petkov (1999-07-25) 25 July 1999 (age 26) 17 0 Poland Śląsk Wrocław v.  Greece, 10 June 2025WD
DF Antov, ValentinValentin Antov (2000-11-09) 9 November 2000 (age 24) 33 2 Italy Cremonese v.  Cyprus, 6 June 2025INJ
DF Atanasov, ZhivkoZhivko Atanasov (1991-02-03) 3 February 1991 (age 34) 13 0 Bulgaria Cherno More v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025SUS
DF Hristov, PetkoPetko Hristov (1999-03-01) 1 March 1999 (age 26) 19 0 Italy Spezia v.  Belarus, 18 November 2024
DF Turitsov, IvanIvan Turitsov (1999-07-18) 18 July 1999 (age 26) 19 0 Bulgaria CSKA Sofia v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
DF Lyaskov, AngelAngel Lyaskov (1998-03-16) 16 March 1998 (age 27) 2 0 Bulgaria Lokomotiv Plovdiv v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024

MF Ivanov, StanislavStanislav Ivanov (1999-04-16) 16 April 1999 (age 26) 5 0 Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad v.  Cyprus, 6 June 2025INJ
MF Kovachev, SvetoslavSvetoslav Kovachev (1998-03-14) 14 March 1998 (age 27) 5 0 Bulgaria Arda v.  Cyprus, 6 June 2025INJ
MF Yordanov, IvanIvan Yordanov (2000-11-07) 7 November 2000 (age 24) 4 0 Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad v.  Cyprus, 6 June 2025INJ
MF Krastev, FilipFilip Krastev (2001-10-15) 15 October 2001 (age 23) 24 1 Netherlands PEC Zwolle v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
MF Panayotov, VasilVasil Panayotov (1990-07-16) 16 July 1990 (age 35) 5 1 Bulgaria Cherno More v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
MF Stoyanov, KristiyanKristiyan Stoyanov (2003-03-29) 29 March 2003 (age 22) 0 0 Bulgaria Slavia Sofia v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
MF Chochev, IvayloIvaylo Chochev (1993-02-18) 18 February 1993 (age 32) 46 4 Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
MF Kostadinov, GeorgiGeorgi Kostadinov (1990-09-07) 7 September 1990 (age 34) 44 3 Bulgaria Levski Sofia v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
MF Yusein, SerkanSerkan Yusein (1996-03-31) 31 March 1996 (age 29) 3 0 Bulgaria Arda v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
MF Minchev, IvanIvan Minchev (1991-05-28) 28 May 1991 (age 34) 2 0 Bulgaria Slavia Sofia v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024

FW Despodov, KirilKiril Despodov (captain) (1996-11-11) 11 November 1996 (age 28) 56 15 Greece PAOK v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
FW Kirilov, RadoslavRadoslav Kirilov (1992-06-29) 29 June 1992 (age 33) 21 2 Bulgaria Levski Sofia v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
FW Ahmedov, AhmedAhmed Ahmedov (1995-03-04) 4 March 1995 (age 30) 4 0 Japan Shimizu S-Pulse v.  Belarus, 18 November 2024
FW Minchev, GeorgiGeorgi Minchev (1995-04-20) 20 April 1995 (age 30) 13 1 Turkey Manisa v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
FW Dimitrov, ZdravkoZdravko Dimitrov (1998-08-24) 24 August 1998 (age 26) 4 0 Turkey Bodrum v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024

Notes
  • INJ = Player was injured and could not play.
  • SUS = Player was suspended and could not play.
  • WD = Player withdrew from the squad.

Player Records

Players in bold are still playing for Bulgaria.

Most Games Played

Stiliyan Petrov
Stiliyan Petrov has played the most games for Bulgaria, with 105 appearances.
Rank Name Games Goals Years Played
1 Stiliyan Petrov 105 8 1998–2011
2 Borislav Mihaylov 102 0 1983–1998
3 Hristo Bonev 96 48 1967–1979
4 Krasimir Balakov 92 16 1988–2003
5 Dimitar Penev 90 2 1965–1974
Martin Petrov 90 19 1999–2011
Ivelin Popov 90 18 2007–2019
8 Radostin Kishishev 88 1 1996–2009
9 Hristo Stoichkov 83 37 1986–1999
10 Dimitar Berbatov 78 48 1999–2010
Nasko Sirakov 78 24 1983–1996

Top Goal Scorers

Hristo Bonev and Dimitar Berbatov are Bulgaria's top goal scorers with 48 goals each.
Rank Name Goals Games Ratio Years Played
1 Dimitar Berbatov 48 78 0.62 1999–2010
Hristo Bonev 48 96 0.5 1967–1979
3 Hristo Stoichkov 37 83 0.45 1987–1999
4 Emil Kostadinov 27 70 0.39 1988–1998
5 Lyubomir Angelov 26 44 0.59 1931–1940
6 Petar Zhekov 25 44 0.57 1963–1972
Ivan Kolev 25 75 0.33 1950–1963
8 Nasko Sirakov 24 78 0.31 1983–1996
9 Atanas Mihaylov 23 45 0.51 1970–1981
10 Dimitar Milanov 19 39 0.49 1948–1959
Georgi Asparuhov 19 49 0.39 1962–1970
Dinko Dermendzhiev 19 58 0.33 1966–1977
Martin Petrov 19 90 0.21 1999–2011

Youngest Players to Debut

Rank Name Age at Debut Opponent Year
1 Vladimir Todorov 15 years 08 months 14 days  Romania 1929
2 Aleksandar Belokapov 15 years 10 months 11 days  Germany 1939
3 Georgi Sokolov 16 years 10 months 24 days  Netherlands 1959
4 Radoslav Maznikov 17 years 02 months 12 days  Romania 1929
5 Nikola Staykov 17 years 07 months 28 days  Yugoslavia 1926
6 Nikolay Mihaylov 17 years 10 months 13 days  Scotland 2006
7 Martin Minchev 17 years 11 months 00 days  Montenegro 2019
8 Hristo Minkovski 17 years 11 months 17 days  Romania 1929
9 Nikola Savov 18 years 01 month 10 days  Hungary 1934
10 Krasimir Chomakov 18 years 01 month 12 days  Uzbekistan 1995

Tournament Records

FIFA World Cup History

     Champions       Runners-up       Third place       Fourth place  

Bulgaria has played in the FIFA World Cup 7 times. Their best result was finishing fourth in 1994.

UEFA European Championship History

Bulgaria has played in the UEFA European Championship 2 times. They reached the group stage in both 1996 and 2004.

UEFA Nations League History

Bulgaria has competed in the UEFA Nations League since it started. They were in League C and League B.

Olympic Games History

Bulgaria has participated in the Olympic Games football tournament 5 times. They won a silver medal in 1968 and a bronze medal in 1956.

Balkan Cup History

Bulgaria has won the Balkan Cup 3 times.

Team Rankings

FIFA Ranking History

Rank Date
Best Rank 8 June 1995
Current Rank 84 July 2025
Worst Rank 96 May 2012

Team Achievements

Major Competitions

Regional Competitions

  • Balkan Cup
    • Champions (3): 1931, 1932, 1976
    • Runners-up (2): 1935, 1936
    • Third place (1): 1933

Friendly Competitions

  • FIFA Series: Azerbaijan
    • Champions (1): 2024
  • Kirin Cup
    • Champions (1): 2013
    • Runners-up (1): 2006
  • Cyprus International Football Tournament
    • Champions (1): 2007

Summary of Wins

Competition 1 2 3 Total
FIFA World Cup 0 0 0 0
Olympic Games 0 1 1 2
UEFA European Championship 0 0 0 0
Balkan Cup 3 2 1 6
Total 3 3 2 8

More About Bulgarian Football

  • Bulgaria national under-21 football team
  • Bulgaria national under-19 football team
  • Bulgaria national under-17 football team

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Bulgaria para niños

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Bulgaria national football team Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.