Bulgarian national soccer team / world championships

Bulgaria
България
Bălgarija

World Cup record goalscorer:	Christo Stoitschkow (6)
World Cup record players:	Borislaw Michajlow and Nasko Sirakow (11 each)
Rank :	35
Balance sheet
26 World Cup games 3 wins 8 draws 15 defeats 22:53 goals
statistics
First World Cup game Bulgaria 0: 1 Argentina Rancagua ( CHI ); May 30, 1962
Biggest World Cup victory Bulgaria 4-0 Greece Chicago ( USA ); June 26, 1994
Biggest World Cup defeats Bulgaria 1: 6 Hungary Rancagua ( CHI ); June 3, 1962 Bulgaria 1-6 Spain Lens ( FRA ); June 24, 1998
successes
World Championship
Participation in the finals	7 ( first : 1962 )
Best results	Fourth place ( 1994 )
Best placements in the countries that host the FIFA World Cup
(Status: after the 2018 World Cup )

The article contains a detailed description of the Bulgarian national football team at world championships . Bulgaria has taken part in the World Cup finals seven times so far and achieved the best result in fourth place in 1994 after failing to win 17 World Cup games.

overview

year	Host country	Participation until ...	Last opponent	Result	Trainer	Comments and special features
1930	Uruguay	not participated
1934	Italy	not qualified				In the qualification to Austria and Hungary failed
1938	France	not qualified				In qualifying at the Czechoslovakia failed
1950	Brazil	not participated
1954	Switzerland	not qualified				Failed in the qualification at the ČSSR
1958	Sweden	not qualified				In the qualification of Hungary failed
1962	Chile	Preliminary round	Argentina , Hungary , England	15th	Georgi Patschedschiev
1966	England	Preliminary round	Brazil , Portugal , Hungary	15th	Rudolf Vytlačil
1970	Mexico	Preliminary round	Peru , Germany , Morocco	13.	Stefan Boschkow
1974	Germany	Preliminary round	Sweden , Uruguay , Netherlands	12.	Christo Mladenow
1978	Argentina	not qualified				In the qualification of France failed
1982	Spain	not qualified				In the qualification to Germany and Austria failed
1986	Mexico	Round of 16	Mexico	15th	Ivan Kolew Vuzov
1990	Italy	not qualified				In the qualification of Romania failed
1994	United States	3rd place match	Sweden	Fourth	Dimitar Penew	Loss in the semi-finals against Italy Christo Stoitschkow together with Oleg Salenko top scorer.
1998	France	Preliminary round	Paraguay , Nigeria , Spain	29	Christo Bonew
2002	South Korea / Japan	not qualified				In the qualification of Denmark and the Czech Republic failed
2006	Germany	not qualified				In the qualification of Croatia and Sweden failed
2010	South Africa	not qualified				In the qualification of Italy and Ireland failed, Ireland then failed in the play-offs.
2014	Brazil	not qualified				In the qualifying failed as a group fourth in Group B. From this group, only group winners Italy could qualify for the 2014 World Cup , because group runner-up Denmark, as the worst runner-up in the group, missed out on the playoff games for the last four World Cup starting places.
2018	Russia	not qualified				In the qualification of France and Sweden failed

Statistics (data including 2018: 21 World Championships; percentages are rounded)

• Not participated: 2 × (10%; 1930, 1950)
• Unqualified: 12 × (57%; 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1978, 1982, 1990, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018)
• Sports qualification: 7 × (33% or 37% of the attempts)
  • Preliminary round: 5 times (24%; 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974 and 1998)
  • Round of 16: 1 × (5%; 1986)
  • Match for 3rd place: 1 × (5%, 1994)
    • Fourth: 1 × (5%; 1994)

World Cup tournaments

1930 in Uruguay

Bulgaria had played international matches since 1924, but like many European countries did not take part in the first World Cup.

1934 in Italy

For the first World Cup in Europe , the Bulgarians should carry games against Austria and Hungary qualify , the two best teams should take part in the World Cup. After Bulgaria lost two games against Hungary (twice 1: 4) and one game against Austria 1: 6, the other games in the group were no longer played and the Austrians and Hungarians went to the World Cup.

1938 in France

For the first World Cup in France , Bulgaria should against Czechoslovakia qualify . With a 1-1 draw in Sofia, the first point in a qualifying match was achieved, but Czechoslovakia qualified with a 6-1 draw in Prague .

1950 in Brazil

Bulgaria had already started playing international matches again in 1946 and played a few games until 1949, but the Bulgarians did not take part in the second World Cup in South America .

1954 in Switzerland

In qualifying for the 1954 World Cup , the Bulgarians met Czechoslovakia and Romania again and could only win a point in Bratislava in the last game - after Czechoslovakia had already qualified . The other three games were lost.

1958 in Sweden

Bulgaria again failed to qualify for the 1958 World Cup. This time the vice world champions Hungary were stronger, who still competed with a few players from the 1954 team, although a large number of the players from 1954 had left the country after the Hungarian uprising of 1956. After all, the first victory in a World Cup qualifying game succeeded on May 22, 1957 in Oslo against Norway . At the second leg in Sofia , the 7-0 win was the highest win in Bulgarian international history. The two games against Hungary were lost.

1962 in Chile

Bulgaria was finally able to qualify for the third World Cup in South America , but needed a play-off against France . Before that, France and Bulgaria won their games against third group opponents Finland as well as their home games against each other. The French had the better goal difference, but that didn't count. The Bulgarians won the decider in Milan , qualifying for the World Cup for the first time.

In Chile, the Bulgarians faced Argentina in their first World Cup game and lost just 0: 1. Against Hungary they went down 6-1, but Georgi Asparuchow scored the first World Cup goal for Bulgaria. In the last group game they won their first World Cup point with a goalless 0-0 win against England .

1966 in England

To qualify for the World Cup in England , Bulgaria signed the Austrian Rudolf Vytlačil , who had led Czechoslovakia to the World Cup final in 1962. He was also the coach of Levski Sofia , with whom he won the Bulgarian championship in 1965. Bulgaria was able to qualify for the World Cup again, but needed another play-off. The group stage was finished tied with Belgium - both had won their games against third opponent Israel and against each other their home games. But since the Belgians' better goal difference still didn't count, there was a play-off. The Bulgarians won it 2-1 in Florence .

At the finals in England , defending champions Brazil were the first opponents and Bulgaria lost 2-0. Against World Cup newcomers Portugal they lost 3-0 and against Hungary they were 3-1. After the World Cup, Vytlačil moved to Rapid Vienna .

1970 in Mexico

Bulgaria also qualified for the first World Cup in Central America . In a group with Poland , the Netherlands and Luxembourg , the Bulgarians ended up having one point more than the Poles they got in the Netherlands.

In Mexico, they met Peru in their first game and lost 3-2 after leading 2-0. The Bulgarians also took the lead against Germany , but then conceded five goals before they managed to make it 5-2 with a minute to go. In the insignificant last game against the newcomer to the World Cup, Morocco , they had to be satisfied with a 1-1 draw after they were unable to defend their 1-0 lead this time as well. The term of office of Stefan Boschkow , who took over the team in 1967, ended with the World Cup .

1974 in the Federal Republic of Germany

Scene from the game against Sweden

Scene from the game against Uruguay

The qualification for the first World Cup in Germany was also successful. In a group with Portugal , Northern Ireland and Cyprus , the group won. One point was only given in Portugal and Northern Ireland.

In Germany, a 0-0 win against Sweden was achieved in the first game , which meant that the opening game was not lost for the first time and a 1-1 draw was also achieved against ex-world champions Uruguay . Against the Netherlands , the team went down at 1: 4 and said goodbye to the World Cup for 12 years.

1978 in Argentina

Bulgaria could not qualify for the World Cup in Argentina and failed to France . Although it was possible to fight for a 2: 2 in the home game against the French at the beginning and the home game against the second group opponent Ireland 2: 1, in Ireland it was only enough to a 0: 0 and the decisive last game was in Paris with 1 : 3 lost.

1982 in Spain

The field of participants was increased for the World Cup in Spain , but Bulgaria was again unable to qualify . Germany and Austria were stronger and only Albania and Finland were won.

1986 in Mexico

Bulgaria could then qualify for the second World Cup in Mexico . Equal on points with the newly crowned European champion France (both 11: 5 points), the Bulgarians prevailed against the GDR , Yugoslavia and Luxembourg .

In Mexico, Bulgaria was allowed to play the opening game against defending champions Italy and won a 1-1. After another 1-1 draw against South Korea , they lost 2-0 to eventual world champions Argentina . The mode that the four best thirds of the group also reached the round of 16 made it possible for Bulgaria to reach the knockout round for the first time without having won a game. Here the team met hosts Mexico and lost 2-0 in front of 114,580 spectators.

1990 in Italy

The second World Cup Italy missed Bulgaria again. In a group with Romania , Denmark and Greece only the last place was occupied and only the home game against Greece was won.

1994 in the United States

Lothar Matthäus related the penalty against Bulgaria

For the World Cup in the USA , the Bulgarians qualified in a group of six together with Sweden, ahead of France , Austria , Finland and Israel .

In the USA, the Bulgarians first faced World Cup newcomers Nigeria and lost 3-0. In the second game against Greece the first and highest World Cup victory to date was achieved with a 4: 0 and then ex-world champions Argentina were also defeated 2: 0. As runners-up in the group, the Bulgarians were once again in the round of 16 and met Mexico like in 1986. In the 6th minute, Christo Stoitschkow gave the Bulgarians a 1-0 lead, which the Mexicans were able to equalize 12 minutes later. Since no more goals were scored and overtime did not result in a penalty shoot-out , the Bulgarians won 3-1 thanks to goalkeeper Borislav Michajlow who saved two penalties. In the quarter-finals, defending champions Germany were the opponents and in the 47th minute the Bulgarians fell behind with a penalty converted by Lothar Matthäus . In the 75th minute, Stoitschkow first equalized and three minutes later Jordan Letschkow, who played in Germany, scored the 2-1 winner. Germany had failed in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1962. For Bulgaria it was the last victory in a World Cup game so far. Because in the semifinals the Bulgarians met Italy and lost 2-1 with two goals from Roberto Baggio . Stoitschkow scored the next goal from a penalty, making him top scorer together with Oleg Salenko . Also in the small final they lost to qualifying opponents Sweden with 0: 4 and the highest goal difference to date in the game for third place.

1998 in France

The Bulgarians were able to qualify again for the second World Cup in France . In a group with Russia , Israel , Cyprus and Luxembourg , they took first place one point ahead of the Russians. Although the Bulgarians were surprisingly defeated 2-1 in Israel in the opening game, all but the last game were won in Russia. The last defeat could be coped with.

In France, however, the Bulgarians were knocked out in the preliminary round and could only fight for a point in the first game against Paraguay with a goalless draw. Even after the close 1-0 draw against Nigeria there was still hope of reaching the round of 16. The last game was lost 6-1 against Spain . With this defeat, Bulgaria said goodbye to the World Cup for at least 24 years. The victory was of no use to the Spaniards either, as Paraguay defeated the Nigerians who had already qualified for the knockout round 3-1.

2002 in Japan and South Korea

Four years later failed to qualify for the first World Cup in Asia . Denmark and the Czech Republic , which lost to Belgium in the runners-up play-offs , were stronger. Only Iceland , Northern Ireland and Malta ended up with fewer points than the Bulgarians. A 2-0 home defeat in the penultimate game against Denmark and a 6-0 defeat in the last game in Prague against the Czechs were decisive for missing the qualification . If they had won in Prague, the Bulgarians would have made it to the playoffs as runners-up.

2006 in Germany

The Bulgarians were also unable to qualify for the second World Cup in Germany . In the group, nine points behind the tied Croatians and Swedes, against whom the home games were lost, only came third. Only Hungary , Iceland and Malta had even fewer points, but even in Malta it was only enough to score 1-1.

2010 in South Africa

The Bulgarians also finished third in the group's qualification for the first World Cup in Africa . In a group with defending champion Italy , who has not qualified automatically since the 2006 World Cup, Ireland , Cyprus , Montenegro and Georgia were four points short of missing the Irish in the playoffs of the group runners-up, in which the Irish at the hand of Thierry Henry failed. The first four games, which all ended in a draw - including a 0-0 win against Italy - were also decisive for the failure of the qualification. It was only in the fifth game that they won 2-0 against Cyprus, but the second leg in Cyprus was lost 4-1. In the end, however, the group's highest victory was achieved with the useless 6: 2 against Georgia.

2014 in Brazil

Italy was drawn again as a qualifying opponent for the Bulgarians for the second World Cup in Brazil . In addition, Denmark , the Czech Republic , Armenia and Malta . The Bulgarians started qualifying in Sofia with a 2-2 win against Italy and a 1-0 win against Armenia. After that there were only two wins against Malta and three more draws, so that in the end only 4th place came out.

2018 in Russia

In the qualification , which began in September 2016, the Bulgarians, who have been coached by Petar Chubchev since September 2016, faced third place in the World Cup - Netherlands , France , Sweden , Belarus and Luxembourg . After half of the games with three home wins and two away defeats, the Bulgarians were in third place. In the second half the Bulgarians could only win the home game against Sweden, which made the battle for group victory between Sweden and France exciting again. Due to defeats in Belarus and the Netherlands as well as the first home defeat in the qualification and against France in general, it was only enough for fourth place in the end. France qualified as group winners for the World Cup finals. Group runner-up Sweden also qualified for the World Cup finals in Russia after winning the playoff against group runners-up in Group G Italy.

player

Ranking of the Bulgarian World Cup players with the most appearances

01. Borislaw Michajlow and Nasko Sirakow : 11 appearances in 2 tournaments

03. Krassimir Balakow , Emil Kostadinow and Christo Stoitschkow : 10 appearances in 2 tournaments

06. Trifon Ivanov and Dimitar Penew : 9 appearances in 2 and 3 tournaments respectively

08. Georgi Asparuchow , Daniel Borimirow , Iwajlo Jordanow and Jordan Letschkow : 7 appearances in 3 (Asparuchow), 2 (Borimirow and Jordanow) and 1 tournament

Ranking of the Bulgarian World Cup players with the most goals

01. Christo Stoitschkow - 6 goals

02. Christo Bonew , Jordan Letschkow and Nasko Sirakow 2 goals each

World Cup captains

• 1962: Kiril Rakarow (1st and 2nd game), Nikola Kowatschew (3rd game)
• 1966: Boris Gaganelow
• 1970: Ivan Dimitrov (1st game), Boris Gaganelow (2nd game), Alexander Schalamanow (3rd game)
• 1974: Christo Bonew
• 1986: Georgi Dimitrov
• 1994: Borislav Michajlow
• 1998: Trifon Ivanov

Players banned from World Championships

• 1994: In the last group game against Argentina , Zanko Zwetanow received the yellow-red card and was suspended for the round of 16, as did Trifon Iwanow and Slatko Jankow , who received the second yellow card . Emil Kremenliew received the yellow-red card in the round of 16 against Mexico and was suspended for the quarter-finals against Germany . Jankow received two more yellow cards in the games against Italy and Sweden, but these had no further effect like the third yellow card for Ivanov in the game against Germany. Bulgarians received a total of 19 yellow cards at this World Cup, more than any other team.
• 1998: Anatoli Nankow received the yellow-red card in the first game against Paraguay and was suspended for the second game against Nigeria.

Share of players playing abroad in the World Cup squad

In the first Bulgarian World Cup squad there was a legionnaire , Panajot Panajotow , but he was not used. Thereafter, up to and including 1974, as with all other Eastern Bloc teams whose state amateurs could not move to western countries, there were no more legionaries in the squad. In 1986 there were two legionnaires, and in 1994, with the best ranking so far, 13. The last time they took part, there were fewer.

Year (games)	Number (countries)	Players (stakes)
1962 (3)	1 (Yugoslavia)	Panayot Panayotov (0)
1966-1974	0
1986 (4)	2 (in France)	Plamen Markow (1), Andrei Scheliaskow (3)
1994 (7)	13 (2 in Germany, 1 in England, 3 in France, 3 in Portugal, 2 in Switzerland, 3 in Spain)	Petar Chubchev (7), Jordan Letschkow (5); Boncho Guentschew (3); Georgi Georgiev (0), Nikolaj Iliew (0), Borislav Michajlow (7); Krassimir Balakow (7), Iwajlo Jordanow (5), Emil Kostadinow (7); Petar Aleksandrov (0), Trifon Ivanov (6); Welko Jotow (0), Ilian Kiriakow (6), Christo Stoitschkow (7)
1998 (3)	10 (4 in Germany, 1 in Portugal, 1 in Spain, 4 in Turkey)	Krassimir Balakow (3), Daniel Borimirow (3), Marian Christow (2), Adalbert Zafirow (0); Ivajlo Jordanow ; Lyuboslav Penew (3); Goscho Gintschew (2), Ilian Iliew (3), Slatko Jankow (2), Zdravko Zdravkov (3)

Games

Bulgaria has played 26 World Cup games so far, of which 3 have been won, 15 lost and 8 have ended in a draw. Once a draw game had to be extended because a winner had to be determined and the game was won by a penalty shoot-out.

Bulgaria took part once (1986) in the opening game against the old world champion and also played against the defending champions in the preliminary round in 1966 and in the quarter-finals in 1994. So far, the Bulgarian team first had to face the hosts: in the round of 16 (1986).

Bulgaria lost once (1986) to the eventual world champion.

Bulgaria have faced World Cup newbies four times: 1966 / Portugal, 1970 / Morocco, 1994 / Nigeria and Greece

All World Cup games
No.	date	opponent	Result	occasion	venue	Remarks
1.	05/30/1962	Argentina	0: 1	Preliminary round	Rancagua ( CHI )	first international match against Argentina
2.	06/03/1962	Hungary	1: 6	Preliminary round	Rancagua ( CHI )
3.	06/07/1962	England	0-0	Preliminary round	Rancagua ( CHI )	first international match against England
4th	07/12/1966	Brazil	0: 2	Preliminary round	Liverpool ( ENG )
5.	07/16/1966	Portugal	0: 3	Preliminary round	Manchester ( ENG )
6th	07/20/1966	Hungary	1: 3	Preliminary round	Manchester ( ENG )
7th	06/02/1970	Peru	2: 3	Preliminary round	Leon ( MEX )
8th.	06/07/1970	BR Germany	2: 5	Preliminary round	Leon ( MEX )
9.	06/11/1970	Morocco	1: 1	Preliminary round	Leon ( MEX )
10.	06/15/1974	Sweden	1: 1	Preliminary round	Dusseldorf ( Germany )
11.	06/19/1974	Uruguay	1: 1	Preliminary round	Hanover ( FRG )	first international match against Uruguay
12.	06/23/1974	Netherlands	1: 4	Preliminary round	Dortmund ( Germany )
13.	05/31/1986	Italy	1: 1	Preliminary round / opening game	Mexico City ( MEX )
14th	06/05/1986	South Korea	1: 1	Preliminary round	Mexico City ( MEX )	first international match against South Korea
15th	06/10/1986	Argentina	0: 2	Preliminary round	Mexico City ( MEX )
16.	06/15/1986	Mexico	0: 2	Round of 16	Mexico City ( MEX )
17th	06/21/1994	Nigeria	0: 3	Preliminary round	Dallas ( USA )	first international match against Nigeria
18th	06/26/1994	Greece	4-0	Preliminary round	Chicago ( USA )
19th	06/30/1994	Argentina	2-0	Preliminary round	Dallas ( USA )
20th	07/05/1994	Mexico	1: 1 n.V .; 3: 1 i. E.	Round of 16	East Rutherford ( USA )
21st	07/10/1994	Germany	2: 1	Quarter finals	East Rutherford ( USA )
22nd	07/13/1994	Italy	1: 2	Semifinals	East Rutherford ( USA )
23.	07/16/1994	Sweden	0: 4	3rd place match	Los Angeles ( USA )
24.	06/12/1998	Paraguay	0-0	Preliminary round	Montpellier ( FRA )	first international match against Paraguay
25th	06/19/1998	Nigeria	0: 1	Preliminary round	Paris ( FRA )
26th	06/24/1998	Spain	1: 6	Preliminary round	Lens ( FRA )

Highest victories and defeats

The Bulgarian team achieved their highest victories against the following countries in World Cup tournaments:

•  Argentina : preliminary round 1994 - 2-0 (only win against Argentina)
•  Germany : Quarter-finals 1994 - 2: 1 (also a 3: 2 in the European Championship qualification 1996 and a 2: 1 in a friendly match)
•  Greece : preliminary round 1994 - 4-0 (also a 4-0 in the 1990 World Cup qualification)

The Bulgarian team suffered their biggest defeats in World Cup tournaments against the following countries:

•  Netherlands : preliminary round 1974 - 1: 4
•  Nigeria : preliminary round 1994 - 3-0
•  Portugal : preliminary round 1966 - 0-3

Records

team

• No yellow cards : 1970 (as well as Morocco and Peru)

player

• Christo Stoitschkow - 1994 top scorer with 6 goals (together with Oleg Salenko (Russia))

Negative records

• The longest run without a win: 17 games from 1962 to 1994
• Most tournament goals conceded: 11 in 7 games and Cameroon (11 in 3 games)
• The biggest losses in a tournament:
  • 1962 in Chile: Bulgaria 1-6 Hungary in the preliminary round
  • 1998 in France: Bulgaria 1: 6 Spain in the preliminary round
• Biggest defeat in a game for 3rd place: 1994, USA Bulgaria 0-4 Sweden
• Most yellow cards in a tournament: 19 in the 1994 World Cup

See also

• Bulgarian national soccer team / European championships

Web links

• Football World - Statistics - Bulgaria on fifa.com
• fifa.com: "Statistical overview: records and milestones"

References and footnotes

1. ↑ Won one game on penalties .
2. ↑ The placements from 5th place onwards were determined by FIFA without any placement games. See: All-time FIFA World Cup Ranking 1930-2010 (PDF; 200 kB)