# Bulgaria at the FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946, due to World War II.
The tournament consists of two parts, the qualification phase and the final phase (officially called the World Cup Finals). The qualification phase, which currently take place over the three years preceding the Finals, is used to determine which teams qualify for the Finals. The current format of the Finals involves 32 teams competing for the title, at venues within the host nation (or nations) over a period of about a month. The World Cup Finals is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, with an estimated 715.1 million people watching the 2006 tournament final.
Bulgaria has appeared in the finals of the FIFA World Cup on seven occasions, the first being at the 1962 tournament. They appeared in the FIFA World Cup subsequently in 1966, 1970, 1974, 1986, 1994 and 1998. Their best performance was in 1994, where they finished in fourth place. They have failed to qualify for a FIFA World Cup since 1998.

## Record at the FIFA World Cup

Bulgaria's first appearance at the World Cup was at the seventh edition of the tournament in 1962. Between 1962 and 1974, they participated at four consecutive World Cup tournaments but did not survive the first round. Their best result followed in 1994, where they reached the semi-finals.
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| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1930 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Was not invited | Was not invited | Was not invited | Was not invited | Was not invited | Was not invited | Was not invited |
| 1934 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 3rd | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| 1938 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2nd | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 1950 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Declined participation | Declined participation | Declined participation | Declined participation | Declined participation | Declined participation | Declined participation |
| 1954 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 3rd | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 1958 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7 |
| 1962 | Group stage | 13th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1st | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| 1966 | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1st | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 7 |
| 1970 | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 1st | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 |
| 1974 | Group stage | 11th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1st | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
| 1978 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2nd | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 1982 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 3rd | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 10 |
| 1986 | Round of 16 | 15th | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2nd | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 5 |
| 1990 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4th | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| 1994 | Fourth place | 4th | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 2nd | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 10 |
| 1998 | Group stage | 22nd | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1st | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 9 |
| 2002 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 3rd | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 15 |
| 2006 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 3rd | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 17 |
| 2010 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 3rd | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 13 |
| 2014 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4th | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 9 |
| 2018 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4th | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 19 |
| 2022 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4th | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 14 |
| 2026 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| 2030 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| 2034 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | Fourth place | 7/25 | 26 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 53 | Total | 137 | 62 | 29 | 46 | 215 | 191 |
    *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out

### By Match

| World Cup | Round | Opponent | Score | Result | Venue | Scorers |
| 1962 | Group 4 | Argentina | 0–1 | L | Rancagua | — |
| 1962 | Group 4 | Hungary | 1–6 | L | Rancagua | G. Sokolov |
| 1962 | Group 4 | England | 0–0 | D | Rancagua | — |
| 1966 | Group 3 | Brazil | 0–2 | L | Liverpool | — |
| 1966 | Group 3 | Portugal | 0–3 | L | Manchester | — |
| 1966 | Group 3 | Hungary | 1–3 | L | Manchester | G. Asparuhov |
| 1970 | Group 4 | Peru | 2–3 | L | León | D. Dermendzhiev, H. Bonev |
| 1970 | Group 4 | West Germany | 2–5 | L | León | A. Nikodimov, T. Kolev |
| 1970 | Group 4 | Morocco | 1–1 | D | León | D. Zhechev |
| 1974 | Group 3 | Sweden | 0–0 | D | Düsseldorf | — |
| 1974 | Group 3 | Uruguay | 1–1 | D | Hanover | H. Bonev |
| 1974 | Group 3 | Netherlands | 1–4 | L | Dortmund | R. Krol (o.g.) |
| 1986 | Group A | Italy | 1–1 | D | Mexico City | N. Sirakov |
| 1986 | Group A | South Korea | 1–1 | D | Mexico City | P. Getov |
| 1986 | Group A | Argentina | 0–2 | L | Mexico City | — |
| 1986 | Round of 16 | Mexico | 0–2 | L | Mexico City | — |
| 1994 | Group D | Nigeria | 0–3 | L | Dallas | — |
| 1994 | Group D | Greece | 4–0 | W | Chicago | H. Stoichkov (2), Y. Letchkov, D. Borimirov |
| 1994 | Group D | Argentina | 2–0 | W | Dallas | H. Stoichkov, N. Sirakov |
| 1994 | Round of 16 | Mexico | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–1 pen.) | D | East Rutherford | H. Stoichkov |
| 1994 | Quarter-finals | Germany | 2–1 | W | East Rutherford | H. Stoichkov, Y. Letchkov |
| 1994 | Semi-finals | Italy | 1–2 | L | East Rutherford | H. Stoichkov |
| 1994 | Third place play-off | Sweden | 0–4 | L | Pasadena | — |
| 1998 | Group D | Paraguay | 0–0 | D | Montpellier | — |
| 1998 | Group D | Nigeria | 0–1 | L | Paris | — |
| 1998 | Group D | Spain | 1–6 | L | Lens | E. Kostadinov |

### Record by Opponent

FIFA World Cup matches (by team) :
| Opponent | Wins | Draws | Losses | Total | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded |
| Argentina | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Brazil | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| England | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Germany | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Greece | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Hungary | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| Italy | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Mexico | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Morocco | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Nigeria | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Paraguay | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Peru | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Portugal | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| South Korea | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Spain | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Sweden | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Uruguay | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| West Germany | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |

## Tournament Summary
### 1962 FIFA World Cup

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts |
| Hungary | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 4.000 | 5 |
| England | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1.333 | 3 |
| Argentina | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.667 | 3 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0.143 | 1 |
* England finished ahead of Argentina on goal average.

### 1966 FIFA World Cup

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts |
| Portugal | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 4.500 | 6 |
| Hungary | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 1.400 | 4 |
| Brazil | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0.667 | 2 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 0.125 | 0 |

### 1970 FIFA World Cup

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| West Germany | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 6 |
| Peru | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 4 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 1 |
| Morocco | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 1 |
All times local (UTC−6)
| GK | 1 | Luis Rubiños |
| DF | 2 | Eloy Campos | 29' |
| DF | 3 | Orlando de la Torre |
| DF | 4 | Héctor Chumpitaz (c) |
| DF | 5 | Nicolás Fuentes |
| MF | 6 | Ramón Mifflin |
| MF | 7 | Roberto Challe |
| FW | 8 | Julio Baylón | 51' |
| FW | 9 | Pedro Pablo León |
| FW | 10 | Teófilo Cubillas |
| FW | 11 | Alberto Gallardo |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 15 | Javier González | 29' |
| FW | 20 | Hugo Sotil | 51' |
| Manager: ||
| Didi ||
| GK | 1 | Simeon Simeonov |
| DF | 2 | Aleksandar Shalamanov |
| DF | 3 | Ivan Dimitrov (c) |
| DF | 5 | Ivan Davidov |
| DF | 4 | Stefan Aladzhov |
| MF | 8 | Hristo Bonev | 73' |
| MF | 6 | Dimitar Penev |
| MF | 10 | Dimitar Yakimov |
| FW | 7 | Georgi Popov | 59' |
| FW | 9 | Petar Zhekov |
| FW | 11 | Dinko Dermendzhiev |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 18 | Dimitar Marashliev | 59' |
| FW | 19 | Georgi Asparuhov | 73' |
| Manager: ||
| Stefan Bozhkov ||
Assistant referees: Abel Aguilar Elizalde (Mexico) Yoshiyuki Maruyama (Japan)
| GK | 1 | Simeon Simeonov |
| DF | 12 | Milko Gaydarski |
| DF | 14 | Dobromir Zhechev |
| DF | 17 | Todor Kolev |
| DF | 6 | Dimitar Penev |
| MF | 15 | Boris Gaganelov (c) | 58' |
| MF | 16 | Asparuh Nikodimov |
| MF | 11 | Dinko Dermendzhiev | 46' |
| MF | 19 | Georgi Asparuhov |
| FW | 18 | Dimitar Marashliev |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Bonev |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 2 | Aleksandar Shalamanov | 58' |
| MF | 20 | Vasil Mitkov | 46' |
| Manager: ||
| Stefan Bozhkov ||
| GK | 1 | Sepp Maier |
| DF | 7 | Berti Vogts |
| DF | 3 | Karl-Heinz Schnellinger |
| DF | 11 | Klaus Fichtel |
| DF | 2 | Horst-Dieter Höttges |
| MF | 4 | Franz Beckenbauer | 72' |
| MF | 12 | Wolfgang Overath |
| RW | 14 | Reinhard Libuda |
| FW | 9 | Uwe Seeler (c) |
| FW | 13 | Gerd Müller |
| LW | 17 | Hannes Löhr | 58' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 6 | Wolfgang Weber | 72' |
| FW | 20 | Jürgen Grabowski | 58' |
| Manager: ||
| Helmut Schön ||
Assistant referees: Guillermo Velasquez (Colombia) Antonio Saldanha Ribeiro (Portugal)
| GK | 13 | Stoyan Yordanov |
| DF | 12 | Milko Gaydarski |
| DF | 14 | Dobromir Zhechev |
| DF | 10 | Dimitar Yakimov | 50' |
| DF | 6 | Dimitar Penev | 42' |
| MF | 2 | Aleksandar Shalamanov (c) |
| MF | 16 | Asparuh Nikodimov |
| MF | 17 | Todor Kolev |
| MF | 7 | Georgi Popov |
| FW | 20 | Vasil Mitkov |
| FW | 19 | Georgi Asparuhov |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 3 | Ivan Dimitrov | 42' |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Bonev | 50' |
| Manager: ||
| Stefan Bozhkov ||
| GK | 12 | Mohammed Hazzaz |
| DF | 3 | Boujemaa Benkhrif |
| DF | 13 | Jalili Fadili |
| DF | 4 | Moulay Khanousi |
| DF | 5 | Kacem Slimani |
| MF | 6 | Mohammed Mahroufi |
| MF | 8 | Driss Bamous (c) | 46' |
| MF | 10 | Mohammed El Filali |
| MF | 7 | Said Ghandi |
| FW | 17 | Ahmed Alaoui | 74' |
| FW | 11 | Maouhoub Ghazouani |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 9 | Ahmed Faras | 74' |
| MF | 16 | Moustapha Choukri | 46' |
| Manager: ||
| Blagoje Vidinić ||
Assistant referees: Tofiq Bahramov (Soviet Union) Laurens van Ravens (Netherlands)

### 1974 FIFA World Cup

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 5 |
| Sweden | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 4 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 2 |
| Uruguay | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 1 |

### 1986 FIFA World Cup

Bulgaria qualified for the World Cup in Mexico by finishing second in Group Four, behind France with 11 points, but worse goal difference, ahead of the teams of Yugoslavia, East Germany, and Luxembourg. This was their fifth World Cup appearance. They were drawn in Group A with Italy, Argentina, and South Korea. In the opening match of the World Cup, the Bulgarians held the defending champions Italy to a 1–1 draw. Alessandro Altobelli gave the Italians the lead, but an 85th-minute equalizer by Nasko Sirakov gave the Bulgarians the point. The next match was another 1–1 draw against South Korea with the goal for Bulgaria coming from Plamen Getov in the 11th minute. They lost the final match of the group 2–0 against Argentina, who ended up winning the tournament. Despite not recording a win, the Bulgarians advanced to the knockout stage by being the third-best third placed team. That way, Bulgaria and also Uruguay became the first nations to qualify for the knockout stage without winning a game in the first round. In the Round of 16, they faced World Cup hosts Mexico and lost the match 2–0. Ivan Vutsov was the manager of the team.
| GK | 1 | Borislav Mihaylov |
| DF | 3 | Nikolay Arabov |
| DF | 5 | Georgi Dimitrov (c) |
| DF | 13 | Aleksandar Markov | 51' |
| MF | 11 | Plamen Getov |
| MF | 10 | Zhivko Gospodinov | | 74' |
| MF | 8 | Ayan Sadakov |
| MF | 12 | Radoslav Zdravkov |
| MF | 2 | Nasko Sirakov |
| FW | 7 | Bozhidar Iskrenov | | 65' |
| FW | 9 | Stoycho Mladenov |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 20 | Kostadin Kostadinov | | 65' |
| MF | 6 | Andrey Zhelyazkov | | 74' |
| Manager: ||
| Ivan Vutsov ||
| GK | 1 | Giovanni Galli |
| DF | 2 | Giuseppe Bergomi | 48' |
| DF | 3 | Antonio Cabrini | 64' |
| DF | 6 | Gaetano Scirea (c) |
| DF | 8 | Pietro Vierchowod |
| MF | 14 | Antonio Di Gennaro |
| MF | 10 | Salvatore Bagni |
| MF | 13 | Fernando De Napoli |
| MF | 16 | Bruno Conti | | 65' |
| FW | 19 | Giuseppe Galderisi |
| FW | 18 | Alessandro Altobelli |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 17 | Gianluca Vialli | | 65' |
| Manager: ||
| Enzo Bearzot ||
| GK | 21 | Oh Yun-kyo |
| DF | 2 | Park Kyung-hoon |
| DF | 5 | Chung Yong-hwan |
| DF | 8 | Cho Young-jeung | 60' |
| MF | 13 | Noh Soo-jin | | 46' |
| MF | 4 | Cho Kwang-rae | | 72' |
| MF | 17 | Huh Jung-moo |
| MF | 16 | Kim Joo-sung | 31' |
| MF | 10 | Park Chang-sun (c) |
| FW | 19 | Byun Byung-joo |
| FW | 11 | Cha Bum-kun |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 7 | Kim Jong-boo | | 46' |
| DF | 20 | Kim Yong-se | | 72' |
| Manager: ||
| Kim Jung-nam ||
| GK | 1 | Borislav Mihaylov |
| DF | 3 | Nikolay Arabov |
| DF | 5 | Georgi Dimitrov (c) |
| DF | 4 | Petar Petrov |
| MF | 11 | Plamen Getov | | 58' |
| MF | 10 | Zhivko Gospodinov | 49' |
| MF | 8 | Ayan Sadakov |
| MF | 12 | Radoslav Zdravkov |
| MF | 2 | Nasko Sirakov |
| FW | 7 | Bozhidar Iskrenov | | 46' |
| FW | 9 | Stoycho Mladenov |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 20 | Kostadin Kostadinov | | 46' |
| MF | 6 | Andrey Zhelyazkov | | 58' |
| Manager: ||
| Ivan Vutsov ||
| GK | 18 | Nery Pumpido |
| DF | 5 | José Luis Brown |
| DF | 13 | Oscar Garré |
| DF | 9 | José Luis Cuciuffo | 25' |
| DF | 19 | Oscar Ruggeri |
| MF | 2 | Sergio Batista | | 46' |
| MF | 14 | Ricardo Giusti |
| MF | 7 | Jorge Burruchaga |
| MF | 10 | Diego Maradona (c) |
| FW | 4 | Claudio Borghi | | 46' |
| FW | 11 | Jorge Valdano |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 16 | Julio Olarticoechea | | 46' |
| MF | 12 | Héctor Enrique | | 46' |
| Manager: ||
| Carlos Bilardo ||
| GK | 1 | Borislav Mihaylov |
| DF | 4 | Petar Petrov |
| DF | 5 | Georgi Dimitrov (c) |
| MF | 11 | Plamen Getov |
| MF | 15 | Georgi Yordanov |
| MF | 6 | Andrey Zhelyazkov |
| MF | 8 | Ayan Sadakov |
| MF | 13 | Aleksandar Markov |
| MF | 2 | Nasko Sirakov | 71' |
| FW | 14 | Plamen Markov |
| FW | 9 | Stoycho Mladenov | 52' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 18 | Boycho Velichkov | 52' |
| MF | 12 | Radoslav Zdravkov | 71' |
| Manager: ||
| Ivan Vutsov ||
| GK | 1 | Pablo Larios |
| DF | 18 | Rafael Amador |
| DF | 3 | Fernando Quirarte |
| DF | 14 | Félix Cruz |
| DF | 17 | Raúl Servín |
| MF | 7 | Miguel España |
| MF | 16 | Carlos Muñoz |
| MF | 10 | Tomás Boy (c) | 79' |
| MF | 13 | Javier Aguirre |
| FW | 22 | Manuel Negrete |
| FW | 9 | Hugo Sánchez |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 6 | Carlos de los Cobos | 79' |
| Manager: ||
| Bora Milutinović ||
| GK | 1 | Borislav Mihaylov |
| DF | 3 | Nikolay Arabov | 58' |
| DF | 5 | Georgi Dimitrov (c) |
| DF | 4 | Petar Petrov |
| MF | 11 | Plamen Getov | | 59' |
| MF | 15 | Georgi Yordanov |
| MF | 19 | Atanas Pashev | | 70' |
| MF | 10 | Zhivko Gospodinov |
| MF | 8 | Ayan Sadakov |
| MF | 12 | Radoslav Zdravkov |
| FW | 20 | Kostadin Kostadinov |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 2 | Nasko Sirakov | | 59' |
| FW | 7 | Bozhidar Iskrenov | | 70' |
| Manager: ||
| Ivan Vutsov ||

### 1994 FIFA World Cup

Certainly one of the most important dates in Bulgarian football history is 17 November 1993, when Emil Kostadinov scored two goals to beat France in Paris, allowing Bulgaria to qualify for the World Cup in the United States in 1994. Under the management of Dimitar Penev, the Bulgarians, led by players such as Hristo Stoichkov, Yordan Letchkov, and Krasimir Balakov — along with a multitude of other talented players remembered in Bulgaria as the "Golden Generation" — made a strong impression by reaching the semi-finals. They entered Group D with Argentina, Nigeria, and Greece. Before that, the Bulgarians hadn't won a single match in five World Cup finals appearances. The first match ended with a 3–0 defeat by Nigeria. Despite the bad start, the team won 4–0 against World Cup-debuting featherweights Greece and 2–0 against Argentina. Argentina had actually been winning the group going into injury-time. A 91st-minute strike from Nasko Sirakov, however, meant that they dropped two places and finished third. Bulgaria continued to the next round, where they faced Mexico. The match ended 1–1 and after no goals were scored in extra time, penalties would decide which team would go through. Team captain Borislav Mihaylov made a good performance saving two of the penalty kicks. Bulgaria won 3–1 on penalties with Mihaylov becoming the hero for the Bulgarian team. In the quarter-finals, Bulgaria faced Germany. Lothar Matthäus scored from a penalty. The Bulgarians, however, managed to turn the game over with two goals by Hristo Stoichkov and Yordan Letchkov, giving them a 2–1 win and recording one of the most memorable wins for the team. Millions of Bulgarians celebrated this win in the Bulgarian capital city of Sofia and other Bulgarian cities. Having reached the semi-finals, this was the best Bulgarian performance in the World Cup. In the semi-finals, they lost 2–1 to Italy. The third-place match was lost to Sweden, 4–0, and Bulgaria eventually finished in fourth place. Hristo Stoichkov was awarded the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the tournament with six goals (shared with Oleg Salenko). Krasimir Balakov was named in the all-star team along with Stoichkov. Starting 11: GK-Mihaylov(c); RB-Kiryakov/Kremenliev, CB/SW-Hubchev, CB-Ivanov, LB-Tsvetanov; DM-Yankov, CM-Lechkov, CM-Balakov, AM/CF-Sirakov/Borimirov; CF/RW-Kostadinov, CF/LW-Stoichkov.
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Nigeria | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Argentina | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 4 | Greece | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | −10 | 0 | |
All times local (EDT/UTC–4, CDT/UTC–5, PDT/UTC–7)
| GK | 1 | Peter Rufai (c) |
| DF | 2 | Augustine Eguavoen |
| DF | 3 | Benedict Iroha |
| DF | 5 | Uche Okechukwu |
| DF | 6 | Chidi Nwanu |
| MF | 7 | Finidi George | | 77' |
| FW | 9 | Rashidi Yekini |
| MF | 11 | Emmanuel Amunike | 73' |
| FW | 12 | Samson Siasia | | 69' |
| FW | 14 | Daniel Amokachi |
| MF | 15 | Sunday Oliseh |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 21 | Mutiu Adepoju | | 69' |
| DF | 13 | Emeka Ezeugo | | 77' |
| Manager: ||
| Clemens Westerhof ||
| GK | 1 | Borislav Mihaylov (c) |
| RB | 2 | Emil Kremenliev |
| DF | 3 | Trifon Ivanov |
| LB | 4 | Tsanko Tsvetanov |
| DF | 5 | Petar Houbchev |
| MF | 6 | Zlatko Yankov |
| FW | 7 | Emil Kostadinov |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Stoichkov |
| MF | 9 | Yordan Letchkov | 54' | 59' |
| MF | 11 | Daniel Borimirov | | 73' |
| MF | 20 | Krasimir Balakov |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 10 | Nasko Sirakov | | 59' |
| FW | 13 | Ivaylo Yordanov | | 73' |
| Manager: ||
| Dimitar Penev ||
Assistant referees: Gordon Dunster (Australia) Eugene Brazzale (Australia) Fourth official: Ali Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates)
| GK | 1 | Borislav Mihaylov (c) |
| DF | 2 | Emil Kremenliev |
| DF | 3 | Trifon Ivanov | 26' |
| DF | 4 | Tsanko Tsvetanov | | 77' |
| DF | 5 | Petar Houbchev | 17' |
| MF | 6 | Zlatko Yankov | 33' |
| FW | 7 | Emil Kostadinov | | 82' |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Stoichkov |
| MF | 9 | Yordan Letchkov |
| MF | 10 | Nasko Sirakov |
| MF | 20 | Krasimir Balakov |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 16 | Ilian Kiriakov | | 77' |
| MF | 11 | Daniel Borimirov | 84' | 82' |
| Manager: ||
| Dimitar Penev ||
| GK | 20 | Elias Atmatsidis |
| DF | 2 | Stratos Apostolakis (c) |
| DF | 5 | Ioannis Kalitzakis |
| MF | 8 | Nikos Nioplias |
| FW | 9 | Nikos Machlas |
| MF | 12 | Spiros Marangos |
| DF | 13 | Vaios Karagiannis | 70' |
| FW | 16 | Alexis Alexoudis | 6' | 58' |
| MF | 17 | Minas Hantzidis | 42' | 48' |
| DF | 18 | Kiriakos Karataidis |
| MF | 19 | Savvas Kofidis |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 10 | Tasos Mitropoulos | 59' | 48' |
| FW | 14 | Vasilis Dimitriadis | | 58' |
| Manager: ||
| Alketas Panagoulias ||
Assistant referees: Abdulla Al Ghattan (Bahrain) Raimundo Calix Garcia (Honduras) Fourth official: Arturo Angeles (United States)
| GK | 12 | Luis Islas |
| DF | 3 | José Chamot |
| MF | 5 | Fernando Redondo |
| DF | 6 | Oscar Ruggeri (c) | 34' |
| FW | 7 | Claudio Caniggia | | 26' |
| FW | 9 | Gabriel Batistuta | 81' |
| DF | 13 | Fernando Cáceres |
| MF | 14 | Diego Simeone |
| DF | 16 | Hernán Díaz |
| FW | 19 | Abel Balbo |
| MF | 20 | Leonardo Rodríguez | 44' | 67' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 17 | Ariel Ortega | | 26' |
| FW | 11 | Ramón Medina Bello | | 67' |
| Manager: ||
| Alfio Basile ||
| GK | 1 | Borislav Mihaylov (c) |
| RB | 2 | Emil Kremenliev |
| DF | 3 | Trifon Ivanov | 58' |
| LB | 4 | Tsanko Tsvetanov | 45' | 67' |
| DF | 5 | Petar Houbchev |
| MF | 6 | Zlatko Yankov | 24' |
| FW | 7 | Emil Kostadinov | | | 74' |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Stoichkov | 7' |
| MF | 9 | Yordan Letchkov | | | 76' |
| MF | 10 | Nasko Sirakov |
| MF | 20 | Krasimir Balakov | 74' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 16 | Ilian Kiriakov | | 74' |
| MF | 11 | Daniel Borimirov | | 76' |
| Manager: ||
| Dimitar Penev ||
Assistant referees: Tapio Yli-Karro (Finland) El Jilali Rharib (Morocco) Fourth official: Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)
| GK | 1 | Jorge Campos |
| DF | 2 | Claudio Suárez | 14' |
| DF | 3 | Juan Ramírez |
| DF | 4 | Ignacio Ambríz (c) |
| DF | 5 | Ramón Ramírez | 70' |
| MF | 6 | Marcelino Bernal |
| MF | 8 | Alberto García Aspe | 76' |
| FW | 10 | Luis García | 28' 57' |
| FW | 11 | Luís Roberto Alves |
| MF | 17 | Benjamín Galindo |
| MF | 20 | Jorge Rodríguez |
| Substitutions: ||
| Manager: ||
| Miguel Mejía Barón ||
| GK | 1 | Borislav Mihaylov (c) |
| DF | 2 | Emil Kremenliev | 12' 50' |
| DF | 5 | Petar Houbchev |
| FW | 7 | Emil Kostadinov | | 119' |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Stoichkov |
| MF | 9 | Yordan Letchkov |
| FW | 10 | Nasko Sirakov | 17' | 104' |
| MF | 11 | Daniel Borimirov |
| FW | 13 | Ivaylo Yordanov | 67' |
| DF | 16 | Ilian Kiriakov | 34' |
| MF | 20 | Krassimir Balakov |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 14 | Bontcho Guentchev | | 104' |
| MF | 17 | Petar Mihtarski | | 119' |
| Manager: ||
| Dimitar Penev ||
| GK | 1 | Borislav Mihaylov (c) | 85' |
| DF | 3 | Trifon Ivanov | 22' |
| DF | 4 | Tsanko Tsvetanov |
| DF | 5 | Petar Houbchev |
| MF | 6 | Zlatko Yankov |
| FW | 7 | Emil Kostadinov | | 90' |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Stoichkov | 82' | 85' |
| MF | 9 | Yordan Letchkov |
| MF | 10 | Nasko Sirakov |
| DF | 16 | Ilian Kiriakov |
| MF | 20 | Krassimir Balakov |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 13 | Ivaylo Yordanov | | 85' |
| FW | 14 | Boncho Genchev | | 90' |
| Manager: ||
| Dimitar Penev ||
| GK | 1 | Bodo Illgner |
| DF | 4 | Jürgen Kohler |
| DF | 5 | Thomas Helmer | 14' |
| DF | 6 | Guido Buchwald |
| MF | 7 | Andreas Möller |
| MF | 8 | Thomas Häßler | 49' | 83' |
| MF | 10 | Lothar Matthäus (c) |
| FW | 13 | Rudi Völler | 89' |
| DF | 14 | Thomas Berthold |
| MF | 17 | Martin Wagner | 15' | 59' |
| FW | 18 | Jürgen Klinsmann | 50' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 2 | Thomas Strunz | | 59' |
| DF | 3 | Andreas Brehme | | 83' |
| Manager: ||
| Berti Vogts ||
| GK | 1 | Borislav Mihaylov (c) |
| DF | 3 | Trifon Ivanov |
| DF | 4 | Tsanko Tsvetanov |
| DF | 5 | Petar Houbchev |
| MF | 6 | Zlatko Yankov | 83' |
| FW | 7 | Emil Kostadinov | 52' | 72' |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Stoichkov | | 79' |
| MF | 9 | Yordan Letchkov | 65' |
| MF | 10 | Nasko Sirakov |
| DF | 16 | Ilian Kiriakov |
| MF | 20 | Krassimir Balakov |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 13 | Ivaylo Yordanov | | 72' |
| MF | 14 | Bontcho Guentchev | | 79' |
| Manager: ||
| Dimitar Penev ||
| GK | 1 | Gianluca Pagliuca |
| DF | 3 | Antonio Benarrivo |
| DF | 4 | Alessandro Costacurta | 61' |
| DF | 5 | Paolo Maldini (c) |
| DF | 8 | Roberto Mussi |
| FW | 10 | Roberto Baggio | | 71' |
| MF | 11 | Demetrio Albertini | 80' |
| MF | 13 | Dino Baggio | | 56' |
| MF | 14 | Nicola Berti |
| MF | 16 | Roberto Donadoni |
| FW | 18 | Pierluigi Casiraghi |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 15 | Antonio Conte | | 56' |
| FW | 20 | Giuseppe Signori | | 71' |
| Manager: ||
| Arrigo Sacchi ||
| GK | 1 | Thomas Ravelli |
| DF | 2 | Roland Nilsson (c) |
| DF | 3 | Patrik Andersson |
| DF | 4 | Joachim Björklund |
| MF | 6 | Stefan Schwarz |
| FW | 7 | Henrik Larsson | | 79' |
| MF | 8 | Klas Ingesson |
| FW | 11 | Tomas Brolin |
| DF | 14 | Pontus Kåmark |
| MF | 18 | Håkan Mild |
| FW | 19 | Kennet Andersson | 82' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 16 | Anders Limpar | | 79' |
| Manager: ||
| Tommy Svensson ||
| GK | 1 | Borislav Mihaylov (c) | | 45' |
| DF | 3 | Trifon Ivanov | | 42' |
| DF | 4 | Tsanko Tsvetanov |
| DF | 5 | Petar Houbchev |
| MF | 6 | Zlatko Yankov | 70' |
| FW | 7 | Emil Kostadinov |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Stoichkov |
| MF | 9 | Yordan Letchkov |
| MF | 10 | Nasko Sirakov | | 45' |
| DF | 16 | Ilian Kiriakov |
| MF | 20 | Krassimir Balakov |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 2 | Emil Kremenliev | | 42' |
| GK | 12 | Plamen Nikolov | | 45' |
| FW | 13 | Ivaylo Yordanov | | 45' |
| Manager: ||
| Dimitar Penev ||

### 1998 FIFA World Cup

Bulgaria qualified for the World Cup in France by finishing first in the Group 5, followed by Russia. They entered the competition with a new manager Hristo Bonev, since Dimitar Penev was sacked after Euro 1996. Bulgaria drew Spain, Nigeria, and Paraguay in Group D. The first match ended in a 0–0 goalless draw against Paraguay. In the second match, the Bulgarians lost 1–0 for a second-straight World Cup to Nigeria. The final match ended with a disappointing 6–1 defeat to Spain. Following the bad results, Bulgaria finished fourth in the group, with only one point, and didn't go through the next round. This was the last major appearance at World Cup level for Bulgaria.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Nigeria | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 5 |
| Spain | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 4 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | −6 | 1 |
| GK | 1 | José Luis Chilavert (c) |
| DF | 4 | Carlos Gamarra |
| DF | 5 | Celso Ayala |
| FW | 9 | José Cardozo | | 70' |
| MF | 10 | Roberto Acuña |
| DF | 11 | Pedro Sarabia |
| MF | 13 | Carlos Paredes |
| FW | 15 | Miguel Benítez | 45' |
| MF | 16 | Julio César Enciso |
| MF | 19 | Carlos Morales | | 43' |
| MF | 21 | Jorge Campos | | 78' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 20 | Denis Caniza | | 43' |
| FW | 18 | César Ramírez | | 70' |
| MF | 7 | Julio César Yegros | | 78' |
| Manager: ||
| Paulo César Carpegiani ||
| GK | 1 | Zdravko Zdravkov |
| DF | 2 | Radostin Kishishev |
| DF | 3 | Trifon Ivanov (c) | 73' |
| DF | 4 | Ivaylo Petkov |
| MF | 5 | Ivaylo Yordanov |
| MF | 6 | Zlatko Yankov |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Stoichkov | 45' |
| FW | 9 | Luboslav Penev | | 68' |
| MF | 10 | Krassimir Balakov |
| MF | 11 | Ilian Iliev | | 77' |
| MF | 16 | Anatoli Nankov | 27' 89' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 7 | Emil Kostadinov | | 68' |
| MF | 18 | Daniel Borimirov | | 77' |
| Manager: ||
| Hristo Bonev ||
Assistant referees: Achmat Salie (South Africa) Hussain Ghadanfari (Kuwait) Fourth official: Nikolai Levnikov (Russia)
| GK | 1 | Peter Rufai |
| DF | 3 | Celestine Babayaro |
| DF | 5 | Uche Okechukwu (c) | 44' |
| DF | 6 | Taribo West |
| MF | 7 | Finidi George | | 84' |
| MF | 8 | Mutiu Adepoju | 20' |
| MF | 10 | Jay-Jay Okocha | 70' |
| MF | 11 | Garba Lawal |
| FW | 14 | Daniel Amokachi | | 67' |
| MF | 15 | Sunday Oliseh |
| FW | 20 | Victor Ikpeba | 49' | 75' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 4 | Nwankwo Kanu | | 67' |
| FW | 9 | Rasheed Yekini | | 75' |
| MF | 13 | Tijani Babangida | | 84' |
| Manager: ||
| Bora Milutinović ||
| GK | 1 | Zdravko Zdravkov |
| DF | 2 | Radostin Kishishev | 78' |
| DF | 3 | Trifon Ivanov (c) |
| DF | 4 | Ivaylo Petkov |
| MF | 6 | Zlatko Yankov | | 84' |
| FW | 7 | Emil Kostadinov |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Stoichkov |
| MF | 10 | Krassimir Balakov |
| MF | 11 | Ilian Iliev | 66' | 66' |
| DF | 13 | Gosho Ginchev |
| MF | 14 | Marian Hristov | | 45' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 18 | Daniel Borimirov | | 45' |
| FW | 9 | Luboslav Penev | | 66' |
| FW | 19 | Georgi Bachev | | 84' |
| Manager: ||
| Hristo Bonev ||
Assistant referees: Jorge Diaz Galvez (Chile) Arnaldo Pinto (Brazil) Fourth official: Marcio Rezende (Brazil)
| GK | 1 | Andoni Zubizarreta (c) |
| RB | 15 | Juan Carlos Aguilera | 16' |
| CB | 20 | Miguel Ángel Nadal |
| CB | 4 | Rafael Alkorta |
| LB | 12 | Sergi |
| RM | 17 | Joseba Etxeberria | | 50' |
| CM | 6 | Fernando Hierro |
| CM | 18 | Guillermo Amor |
| LM | 21 | Luis Enrique | | 69' |
| CF | 7 | Fernando Morientes |
| CF | 11 | Alfonso | | 65' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 10 | Raúl | | 50' |
| FW | 19 | Kiko | | 65' |
| MF | 8 | Julen Guerrero | 73' | 69' |
| Manager: ||
| Javier Clemente ||
| GK | 1 | Zdravko Zdravkov |
| DF | 2 | Radostin Kishishev |
| DF | 3 | Trifon Ivanov (c) |
| MF | 5 | Ivaylo Yordanov |
| FW | 7 | Emil Kostadinov |
| FW | 8 | Hristo Stoichkov | | 45' |
| MF | 10 | Krassimir Balakov | | 61' |
| DF | 13 | Gosho Ginchev |
| MF | 16 | Anatoli Nankov | | 28' |
| MF | 18 | Daniel Borimirov |
| FW | 19 | Georgi Bachev | 85' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 9 | Luboslav Penev | 45' | 28' |
| MF | 11 | Ilian Iliev | | 45' |
| MF | 14 | Marian Hristov | | 61' |
| Manager: ||
| Hristo Bonev ||
Assistant referees: Nicolae Grigorescu (Romania) Claudio Rossi (Argentina) Fourth official: Nikolai Levnikov (Russia)

## Record players

| Rank | Player | Matches | World Cups |
| 1 | Borislav Mihaylov | 11 | 1986 and 1994 |
| 1 | Nasko Sirakov | 11 | 1986 and 1994 |
| 3 | Krasimir Balakov | 10 | 1994 and 1998 |
| 3 | Emil Kostadinov | 10 | 1994 and 1998 |
| 3 | Hristo Stoichkov | 10 | 1994 and 1998 |
| 6 | Dimitar Penev | 9 | 1966, 1970 and 1974 |
| 6 | Trifon Ivanov | 9 | 1994 and 1998 |
| 8 | Zlatko Yankov | 8 | 1994 and 1998 |
| 9 | Georgi Asparuhov | 7 | 1962, 1966 and 1970 |
| 9 | Petar Houbchev | 7 | 1994 |
| 9 | Yordan Letchkov | 7 | 1994 |
| 9 | Daniel Borimirov | 7 | 1994 and 1998 |
| 9 | Ivaylo Yordanov | 7 | 1994 and 1998 |

## Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Goals | World Cups |
| 1 | Hristo Stoichkov | 6 | 1994 |
| 2 | Hristo Bonev | 2 | 1970 and 1974 |
| 2 | Nasko Sirakov | 2 | 1986 and 1994 |
| 2 | Yordan Letchkov | 2 | 1994 |
| 5 | Georgi Sokolov | 1 | 1962 |
| 5 | Georgi Asparuhov | 1 | 1966 |
| 5 | Dinko Dermendzhiev | 1 | 1970 |
| 5 | Todor Kolev | 1 | 1970 |
| 5 | Asparuh Nikodimov | 1 | 1970 |
| 5 | Dobromir Zhechev | 1 | 1970 |
| 5 | Plamen Getov | 1 | 1986 |
| 5 | Daniel Borimirov | 1 | 1994 |
| 5 | Emil Kostadinov | 1 | 1998 |

## Individual awards

* Golden Boot 1994: Hristo Stoichkov (shared)
* Bronze Ball 1994: Hristo Stoichkov