Bulgaria and the 2030 World Cup

Chances at the 2030 World Cup

Bulgaria qualify in 1.4% of simulated campaigns. They would need almost everything to go their way. The single most likely outcome is not qualifying (98.6% of cycles).

When they are at the finals, Bulgaria get out of their group 15.2% of the time.

A 64-team World Cup would change the picture: with the extra places the simulator assumes for that format, Bulgaria qualify in 4.8% of campaigns instead of 1.4%.

Share of 20,000 simulated cycles, from first qualifier to final, in which Bulgaria got at least this far. How the simulation works · All 211 nations

The route to the finals

Europe's qualifying is played in twelve groups: each group winner qualifies, and the eight best runners-up play off for the last two places. Bulgaria come in at the group stage.

There are 14 places for the 53 nations that have to qualify.

UEFA qualifying in full: format, what is official and every nation's odds.

How strong are they?

Bulgaria have 1262.57 points in the FIFA ranking published on 7 October 2026, which places them 90th in the world and 39th of the 55 nations in Europe. The simulator uses that points total directly as the team's rating.

Their attack score is 49 and their defence score 56, on a scale of 1 to 100 built from the last 30 internationals. Attack and defence are closely matched, so the team's results follow its overall rating without leaning towards high- or low-scoring games.

Around them in UEFA

Bulgaria at the World Cup

They have played at 7 World Cups, the first in 1962 and the most recent in 1998. Their best finish is fourth place, in 1994. They have missed the last 7 World Cups.