Bulgaria national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bulgaria

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 2 (7 February 2019)
Highest	8 (June 1995)
Lowest	96 (May 2012)
Elo ranking
Current	50 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

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 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.

Bulgarian players celebrating their victory over Germany in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Team Colors Bulgarian tri-color flag Coat of arms of Bulgaria

Kit Sponsors Supplier Period BFU 1922–1974 Adidas 1974–1994 Puma 1995–2010 Kappa 2011–2014 Joma 2015–2022 Macron 2023–

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

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  Vasil Levski National Stadium

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  Hristo Botev Stadium

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

Current manager Ilian Iliev.

Role	Name
Head coach	Ilian Iliev
Assistant coach	Petar Kostadinov
Assistant coach	Georgi Donkov
Goalkeeping coach	Zdravko Zdravkov
Analyst	Atanas Ribarski
Fitness coach	Yasen Lyubenov
Recovery coach	Nikola Izpoldzhiyski
GPS analyst	Alex Mihalev
Doctor	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	Aberdeen
21	1GK	Vutsov, SvetoslavSvetoslav Vutsov	(2002-07-09) 9 July 2002 (age 23)	7	0	Levski Sofia
23	1GK	Sheytanov, DimitarDimitar Sheytanov	(1999-03-15) 15 March 1999 (age 26)	1	0	CSKA 1948
2	2DF	Popov, ViktorViktor Popov	(2000-03-05) 5 March 2000 (age 25)	23	0	Korona Kielce
3	2DF	Petrov, HristiyanHristiyan Petrov	(2002-06-24) 24 June 2002 (age 23)	6	0	Heerenveen
14	2DF	Nedyalkov, AntonAnton Nedyalkov	(1993-04-30) 30 April 1993 (age 32)	33	0	Ludogorets Razgrad
15	2DF	Petrov, SimeonSimeon Petrov	(2000-01-12) 12 January 2000 (age 25)	12	0	Fehérvár
18	2DF	Nürnberger, FabianFabian Nürnberger	(1999-07-28) 28 July 1999 (age 26)	8	0	Darmstadt 98
20	2DF	Minkov, NikolayNikolay Minkov	(1997-08-13) 13 August 1997 (age 28)	3	0	Botev Plovdiv
24	2DF	Bozhinov, RosenRosen Bozhinov	(2005-01-23) 23 January 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Antwerp
4	3MF	Gruev, IliaIlia Gruev	(2000-05-06) 6 May 2000 (age 25)	22	0	Leeds United
8	3MF	Kraev, AndrianAndrian Kraev	(1999-02-14) 14 February 1999 (age 26)	13	1	Casa Pia
16	3MF	Petkov, MarinMarin Petkov	(2003-10-02) 2 October 2003 (age 21)	16	3	Levski Sofia
17	3MF	Milanov, GeorgiGeorgi Milanov	(1992-02-19) 19 February 1992 (age 33)	52	2	Dinamo București
22	3MF	Iliev Jr., IlianIlian Iliev Jr.	(1999-08-20) 20 August 1999 (age 26)	21	0	CSKA Sofia
26	3MF	Shopov, StanislavStanislav Shopov	(2002-02-23) 23 February 2002 (age 23)	5	0	Osijek
7	4FW	Rusev, GeorgiGeorgi Rusev	(1998-07-02) 2 July 1998 (age 27)	19	1	Ludogorets Razgrad
9	4FW	Kolev, AleksandarAleksandar Kolev	(1992-12-08) 8 December 1992 (age 32)	13	2	Nantong Zhiyun
10	4FW	Kraev, BozhidarBozhidar Kraev	(1997-06-23) 23 June 1997 (age 28)	27	3	Western Sydney Wanderers
11	4FW	Minchev, MartinMartin Minchev	(2001-04-22) 22 April 2001 (age 24)	23	0	Cracovia
19	4FW	Nikolov, VladimirVladimir Nikolov	(2001-02-07) 7 February 2001 (age 24)	4	0	Korona Kielce
25	4FW	Petkov, LukasLukas Petkov	(2000-11-01) 1 November 2000 (age 24)	7	0	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	Cherno More	v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
GK	Dyulgerov, IvanIvan Dyulgerov	(1999-07-15) 15 July 1999 (age 26)	6	0	Sheriff Tiraspol	v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
DF	Dimitrov, KristianKristian Dimitrov	(1997-02-27) 27 February 1997 (age 28)	18	1	Levski Sofia	v.  Greece, 10 June 2025INJ
DF	Petkov, AleksAleks Petkov	(1999-07-25) 25 July 1999 (age 26)	17	0	Śląsk Wrocław	v.  Greece, 10 June 2025WD
DF	Antov, ValentinValentin Antov	(2000-11-09) 9 November 2000 (age 24)	33	2	Cremonese	v.  Cyprus, 6 June 2025INJ
DF	Atanasov, ZhivkoZhivko Atanasov	(1991-02-03) 3 February 1991 (age 34)	13	0	Cherno More	v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025SUS
DF	Hristov, PetkoPetko Hristov	(1999-03-01) 1 March 1999 (age 26)	19	0	Spezia	v.  Belarus, 18 November 2024
DF	Turitsov, IvanIvan Turitsov	(1999-07-18) 18 July 1999 (age 26)	19	0	CSKA Sofia	v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
DF	Lyaskov, AngelAngel Lyaskov	(1998-03-16) 16 March 1998 (age 27)	2	0	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
MF	Ivanov, StanislavStanislav Ivanov	(1999-04-16) 16 April 1999 (age 26)	5	0	Ludogorets Razgrad	v.  Cyprus, 6 June 2025INJ
MF	Kovachev, SvetoslavSvetoslav Kovachev	(1998-03-14) 14 March 1998 (age 27)	5	0	Arda	v.  Cyprus, 6 June 2025INJ
MF	Yordanov, IvanIvan Yordanov	(2000-11-07) 7 November 2000 (age 24)	4	0	Ludogorets Razgrad	v.  Cyprus, 6 June 2025INJ
MF	Krastev, FilipFilip Krastev	(2001-10-15) 15 October 2001 (age 23)	24	1	PEC Zwolle	v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
MF	Panayotov, VasilVasil Panayotov	(1990-07-16) 16 July 1990 (age 35)	5	1	Cherno More	v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
MF	Stoyanov, KristiyanKristiyan Stoyanov	(2003-03-29) 29 March 2003 (age 22)	0	0	Slavia Sofia	v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
MF	Chochev, IvayloIvaylo Chochev	(1993-02-18) 18 February 1993 (age 32)	46	4	Ludogorets Razgrad	v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
MF	Kostadinov, GeorgiGeorgi Kostadinov	(1990-09-07) 7 September 1990 (age 34)	44	3	Levski Sofia	v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
MF	Yusein, SerkanSerkan Yusein	(1996-03-31) 31 March 1996 (age 29)	3	0	Arda	v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
MF	Minchev, IvanIvan Minchev	(1991-05-28) 28 May 1991 (age 34)	2	0	Slavia Sofia	v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
FW	Despodov, KirilKiril Despodov (captain)	(1996-11-11) 11 November 1996 (age 28)	56	15	PAOK	v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
FW	Kirilov, RadoslavRadoslav Kirilov	(1992-06-29) 29 June 1992 (age 33)	21	2	Levski Sofia	v.  Republic of Ireland, 23 March 2025
FW	Ahmedov, AhmedAhmed Ahmedov	(1995-03-04) 4 March 1995 (age 30)	4	0	Shimizu S-Pulse	v.  Belarus, 18 November 2024
FW	Minchev, GeorgiGeorgi Minchev	(1995-04-20) 20 April 1995 (age 30)	13	1	Manisa	v.  Northern Ireland, 15 October 2024
FW	Dimitrov, ZdravkoZdravko Dimitrov	(1998-08-24) 24 August 1998 (age 26)	4	0	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 has played the most games for Bulgaria, with 105 appearances.

Top Goal Scorers

Hristo Bonev and Dimitar Berbatov are Bulgaria's top goal scorers with 48 goals each.

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.

Bulgaria's World Cup history
First match	Argentina 1–0 Bulgaria  (Rancagua, Chile; 30 May 1962)
Biggest win	Bulgaria 4–0 Greece  (Chicago, United States; 26 June 1994)
Biggest defeat	Hungary 6–1 Bulgaria  (Rancagua, Chile; 3 June 1962)
Best result	Fourth place (1994)
Worst result	Group stage (1966)

UEFA European Championship History

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

Bulgaria's European Championship history
First match	Spain 1–1 Bulgaria  (Leeds, England; 9 June 1996)
Biggest win	Bulgaria 1–0 Romania  (Newcastle, England; 13 June 1996)
Biggest defeat	Sweden 5–0 Bulgaria  (Lisbon, Portugal; 14 June 2004)
Best result	Group stage (1996)
Worst result	Group stage (2004)

UEFA Nations League History

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

Bulgaria's Nations League history
First match	Slovenia 1–2 Bulgaria  (Ljubljana, Slovenia; 6 September 2018)
Biggest win	Bulgaria 5–1 Gibraltar  (Razgrad, Bulgaria; 23 September 2022)
Biggest defeat	Northern Ireland 5–0 Bulgaria  (Belfast, Northern Ireland; 15 October 2024)
Best result	League B (2020–21)
Worst result	League C (2022–23)

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.

Bulgaria's Olympic Games history
First match	Ireland 1–0 Bulgaria  (Colombes, France; 28 May 1924)
Biggest win	Bulgaria 7–0 Thailand  (Leon, Mexico; 14 October 1968)
Biggest defeat	Bulgaria 1–4 Hungary  (Mexico City, Mexico; 26 October 1968)
Best result	Silver medal (1968)
Worst result	Second round (1924)

Balkan Cup History

Bulgaria has won the Balkan Cup 3 times.

Team Rankings

FIFA Ranking History

Team Achievements

Major Competitions

• Olympic Games
  • Silver medal (1): 1968
  • Bronze medal (1): 1956

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				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

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Bulgaria para niños