About Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) was founded in 1923 as the football department of the Bulgarian National Sports Federation. It affiliated with FIFA in 1924 and became a UEFA founding member in 1954. Over the decades the organisation underwent several name changes before adopting its current title on 27 June 1985.

Bulgaria's greatest footballing moment came at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, where the team reached the semi-finals under manager Dimitar Penev. Their campaign included a stunning 2–1 quarter-final victory over defending champions Germany, before falling to Italy in the semis. The squad was headlined by Hristo Stoichkov, who won the Ballon d'Or that same year, alongside Krasimir Balakov and Yordan Lechkov. The side finished fourth overall — the finest result in Bulgarian football history.

Earlier international honours include a silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and a bronze at the 1956 Melbourne Games. Bulgaria also claimed three Balkan Cup titles in 1931, 1932, and 1973–76.

In recent years the federation faced turbulence both on and off the pitch. A 2019 home match against England was marred by racist chanting from a section of fans, prompting widespread criticism and the temporary resignation of then-president Borislav Mihaylov. Georgi Ivanov was elected president in March 2024 as the BFU seeks to restore stability and revive the national team's fortunes.