Bulgaria visits Turkey on Saturday at 19:00 in a world qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
The first match between the two teams ended with a crushing 1:6 in Sofia, which further emphasizes the serious difference in the current class.
Bulgaria arrives in Bursa with quite a few personnel problems. The absence of Levski star Radoslav Kirilov is a serious blow - it was he who scored our only goal in the qualifiers. An injury took him out of the accounts of coach Aleksandar Dimitrov, Gong.bg writes.
The same situation is with Ludogorets captain Anton Nedyalkov and Spezia's main defender Petko Hristov. Stefan Velkov from the Danish team Vejle was called up in their place. Stanislav Ivanov stepped in as Kirilov's replacement, but he too was injured the day before the departure for Turkey, leaving the coaching staff in an even more difficult position.
The situation surrounding the team was further complicated by the scandal following the defeat by Spain in Valladolid. Levski goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov announced that he was withdrawing from the national team indefinitely due to "bad treatment" by the staff. CSKA 1948 goalkeeper Dimitar Sheytanov was also left out of the group. Dimitar Evtimov from Botev Vratsa and Alex Bozhev from Slavia Prague were called up in their place.
Turkey enters the match second in the group with three wins and one defeat, continuing the battle for a place in the 2026 World Cup. Bulgaria is in last position with four losses and only one goal scored, with 16 conceded - statistics that clearly outline the situation for the national team.
The atmosphere in Bursa itself will also be a big challenge, where the match will be played in one of the most original stadiums in the world. The arena is completely covered and decorated in green - the colors of the local Bursaspor, and its northern stand is shaped like a crocodile's head, inspired by the nickname "The Green Crocodiles". Some of the spectators literally enter through the “open mouth“, and the interior columns and staircases resemble rows of sharp teeth when you look at the facility from the outside.
Local media reports that the match will be held under increased diplomatic and protocol focus. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to be in the stands, and information from Bursada Bugün claims that the head of state of Bulgaria may also be present. This makes the match an event with a high international profile.