Bulgaria vs Sweden: World Cup head-to-head record
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Sweden lead Bulgaria in World Cup head-to-head record with one win and one draw from two meetings, with Bulgaria yet to claim a victory. Across the 1974 and 1994 FIFA World Cups, Sweden have outscored Bulgaria 4-0 in total, though the nations' first encounter ended goalless. Bulgaria have never beaten Sweden on the World Cup stage.
The two sides met in very different contexts — a group-stage opener in West Germany and a third-place play-off in the United States — making their record a tale of two contrasting encounters.
Match-by-match World Cup results
The first World Cup meeting came on Matchday 1 of the 1974 tournament in West Germany, where Sweden and Bulgaria played out a goalless draw in the group stage. Neither side could find the net, and the point proved relatively more useful to Sweden as they progressed through the competition.
Twenty years later, the two nations met again under far higher stakes — the third-place play-off at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Sweden produced a dominant performance, winning 4-0 to claim bronze. It remains Bulgaria's heaviest defeat at a World Cup finals and Sweden's most emphatic victory in any World Cup match against Bulgarian opposition.
All-time summary table
| Year | Stage | Result |
|------|-------|--------|
| 1974 | Group stage (Matchday 1) | Sweden 0-0 Bulgaria |
| 1994 | Third-place match | Sweden 4-0 Bulgaria |
Bulgaria's best World Cup era came in 1994, when they famously reached the semi-finals — only to be eliminated by Italy before facing Sweden in the bronze-medal match. Despite that historic run, they could not avoid a heavy defeat to a Swedish side that had been equally impressive throughout the tournament. Fans preparing for any future meeting between these nations can track live scores and the full 2026 schedule at Bola 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many times have Bulgaria and Sweden met at the World Cup?
Bulgaria and Sweden have met twice at the FIFA World Cup — in the 1974 group stage, which ended 0-0, and the 1994 third-place match, which Sweden won 4-0.
Has Bulgaria ever beaten Sweden at the World Cup?
No. Bulgaria have never beaten Sweden in a World Cup match. Across their two meetings, Bulgaria drew once (1974) and lost once (1994), conceding four goals without scoring any.
What was the biggest margin of victory between Bulgaria and Sweden at the World Cup?
Sweden's 4-0 win over Bulgaria in the 1994 third-place match is the largest margin of victory between the two sides at the World Cup. It secured Sweden the bronze medal.