First Professional Football League
FIFA Region
UEFA
Season
2023-2024
Location
Bulgaria
Abbreviation
BUL1

Summary

The First Professional Football League (BUL1) is the top professional league in the Bulgarian football system. At completion of the 2023-2024 regular season, the top 6 teams participate in the BUL1 Championship Group phase. Championship Group results determine how the teams qualify for the following non-league play:

  • 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League - 1st Qualifying Round:
    • 1st place 2023-2024 BUL1 Championship Group team
  • 2024-2025 UEFA Europa Conference League - 2nd Qualifying Round:
    • 2nd and 3rd place 2023-2024 BUL1 Championship Group teams
    • winner of 2023-2024 BUL1 UEFA Europa Conference League Playoffs

The winner of the 2023-2024 Bulgarian Cup, typically a BUL1 team, also receives a berth in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa Conference League.

Leagues Pyramid - Bulgaria

Abbrev League # of Teams
BUL1 efbet League
(First Professional Football League)
16
BUL2 Second Professional Football League 18
BUL3 Third Amatuer Football League 73

Competition Structure

Season

# of Teams

Regular
14 Jul 2023 - 12 Apr 2024
Champ/Releg Rounds
26 Apr 2024 - 24 May 2024
UEFAECL Playoffs
8 Jun 2024 - 10 Jun 2024
14: BUL1 (12 minimum), BUL2 (2 maximum)

Season Format

The 2023-2024 BUL1 consists of a double round robin format where each BUL1 team plays Home-Away matches with the other 15 BUL1 teams, for a total of 30 regular season matches per team. At the end of regular season, the top 6 teams play in the Championship group, teams placed 7th through 10th place teams play in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UEFAECL) group, and teams placed 11th through 16th place play in the Relegation group. In the Championship and Relegation rounds, each team plays 1 match against the other 5 teams in their group for 5 more matches (35 total per team). In the UEFAECL group, each teams play Home/Away matches against the other 3 teams in their group for 6 more matches (36 total per team). Table ranking ties are broken by (1) head-to-head points, (2) head-to-head goal difference, (3) head-to-head goals scored, (4) head-to-head away goals scored (if only 2 teams), (5) goal difference, (6) total goals scored, (7) Fairplay ranking, then (8) a drawing.

Playoffs

Upon completion of the 2023-2024 BUL1 Championship and UEFAECL Playoffs rounds, the 3rd place Championship team enters into Home/Away highest aggregate goals wins matches against the 1st place UEFAECL Playoffs team.

Relegation

At the end of the 2023-2024 BUL1 Relegation Round, the 6th place team is relegated to BUL2, and the 5th place team enters into a Promotion/Relegation with a BUL2 team.


More Info...


2nd Stage

 LeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
Championship
1Ludogorets Razgrad 2923 -3-372-7715621512 -2-138499401411 -1-23428622
2CSKA Sofia 3019 -6-563-501931158 -4-328258171511 -2-235251114
3PFC Cherno More Varna 3018 -8-462-4725221514 -1-04329920154 -7-41918162
4PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv 3016 -7-755-503416159 -2-429271215157 -5-32623221
5PFC Levski Sofia 3016 -6-854-4526191510 -2-33224618156 -4-52221201
6FK Krumovgrad 3012 -8-1044-35350159 -3-33025196153 -5-7141016-6
Relegation
1PFC Beroe Stara Zagora 309 -6-1533-2442-18156 -5-42316151153 -1-1110827-19
2FK Hebar 1918 Pazardzhik 308 -6-1630-3244-12155 -4-6191416-2153 -2-10111828-10
3OFK Pirin Blagoevgrad 317 -9-1530-2443-19163 -5-8141219-7154 -4-7161224-12
4FC Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia 308 -4-1828-2256-34153 -3-9121123-12155 -1-9161133-22
5POFC Botev Vratsa 317 -4-2025-2454-30155 -1-9161624-8162 -3-119830-22
6SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo 303 -5-2214-1756-39152 -3-1091228-16151 -2-125528-23
UEFAECL Playoffs
1PFC Botev Plovdiv 3012 -8-1044-473314157 -3-524241410155 -5-52023194
2CSKA 1948 Sofia 2911 -10-843-30255146 -5-32314113155 -5-52016142
3FK Arda Kardzhali 3011 -6-1339-32320156 -5-42321165155 -1-9161116-5
4PFC Slavia Sofia 309 -6-1533-2845-17156 -3-6211719-2153 -3-9121126-15
UEFAECL Playoffs
2024-2025 UEFACL
2024-2025 UEFAECL
Relegation Playoff
Relegation to BUL2

1st Stage

 LeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
1Ludogorets Razgrad 2923 -3-372-7715621512 -2-138499401411 -1-23428622
2CSKA Sofia 3019 -6-563-501931158 -4-328258171511 -2-235251114
3PFC Cherno More Varna 3018 -8-462-4725221514 -1-04329920154 -7-41918162
4PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv 3016 -7-755-503416159 -2-429271215157 -5-32623221
5PFC Levski Sofia 3016 -6-854-4526191510 -2-33224618156 -4-52221201
6PFC Botev Plovdiv 3012 -8-1044-473314157 -3-524241410155 -5-52023194
7FK Krumovgrad 3012 -8-1044-35350159 -3-33025196153 -5-7141016-6
8CSKA 1948 Sofia 2911 -10-843-30255146 -5-32314113155 -5-52016142
9FK Arda Kardzhali 3011 -6-1339-32320156 -5-42321165155 -1-9161116-5
10PFC Slavia Sofia 309 -6-1533-2845-17156 -3-6211719-2153 -3-9121126-15
11PFC Beroe Stara Zagora 309 -6-1533-2442-18156 -5-42316151153 -1-1110827-19
12FK Hebar 1918 Pazardzhik 308 -6-1630-3244-12155 -4-6191416-2153 -2-10111828-10
13OFK Pirin Blagoevgrad 307 -9-1430-2341-18153 -5-7141117-6154 -4-7161224-12
14FC Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia 308 -4-1828-2256-34153 -3-9121123-12155 -1-9161133-22
15POFC Botev Vratsa 306 -4-2022-2253-31155 -1-9161624-8151 -3-116629-23
16SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo 303 -5-2214-1756-39152 -3-1091228-16151 -2-125528-23
Championship Group
UEFAECL Playoffs
Relegation Group

Fixtures

Sat - 27 Apr 2024
 CSKA Sofia   PFC Levski SofiaStadion Vasil Levski
 PFC Botev Plovdiv   PFC Slavia SofiaStadion Hristo Botev (Plovdiv)
Sun - 28 Apr 2024
 Ludogorets Razgrad   FK KrumovgradHuvepharma Arena
Mon - 29 Apr 2024
 CSKA 1948 Sofia   FK Arda KardzhaliStadion Vitosha (Bistritsa)
Mon - 6 May 2024
 PFC Slavia Sofia   FK Arda KardzhaliStadion Aleksandar Shalamanov
 PFC Botev Plovdiv   CSKA 1948 SofiaStadion Hristo Botev (Plovdiv)
Fri - 10 May 2024
 FK Krumovgrad   PFC Lokomotiv PlovdivNikola Shterev-Starika Complex
 PFC Levski Sofia   PFC Cherno More VarnaVivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov
 Ludogorets Razgrad   CSKA SofiaHuvepharma Arena
 POFC Botev Vratsa   FK Hebar 1918 PazardzhikStadion Hristo Botev (Plovdiv)
 CSKA 1948 Sofia   PFC Slavia SofiaStadion Vitosha (Bistritsa)
Fri - 17 May 2024
 CSKA Sofia   FK KrumovgradBalgarska Armia Stadium
 PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv   PFC Levski SofiaStadion Lokomotiv (Plovdiv)

Results

Fri - 26 Apr 2024
 OFK Pirin Blagoevgrad 12 POFC Botev VratsaStadion Hristo Botev (Plovdiv)
Sun - 21 Apr 2024
 FC Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia 04 PFC Botev PlovdivStadion Lokomotiv (Plovdiv)
 PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv 11 CSKA 1948 SofiaStadion Lokomotiv (Plovdiv)
Sat - 20 Apr 2024
 PFC Levski Sofia 10 PFC Beroe Stara ZagoraVivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov
 FK Hebar 1918 Pazardzhik 03 Ludogorets RazgradStadion Georgi Benkovski
 OFK Pirin Blagoevgrad 00 PFC Cherno More VarnaStadion Hristo Botev (Plovdiv)
Fri - 19 Apr 2024
 FK Krumovgrad 20 PFC Slavia SofiaNikola Shterev-Starika Complex
 POFC Botev Vratsa 20 SFC Etar Veliko TarnovoStadion Hristo Botev (Plovdiv)
Mon - 15 Apr 2024
 CSKA 1948 Sofia 21 FC Lokomotiv 1929 SofiaStadion Vitosha (Bistritsa)
Sun - 14 Apr 2024
Sat - 13 Apr 2024
 PFC Slavia Sofia 31 FK Hebar 1918 PazardzhikStadion Aleksandar Shalamanov
Fri - 12 Apr 2024
 CSKA Sofia 12 OFK Pirin BlagoevgradBalgarska Armia Stadium
 PFC Botev Plovdiv 20 POFC Botev VratsaNikola Shterev-Starika Complex
Thu - 11 Apr 2024
 CSKA 1948 Sofia PSPD Ludogorets RazgradStadion Vitosha (Bistritsa)
Tue - 9 Apr 2024
 FC Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia 10 PFC Beroe Stara ZagoraStadion Lokomotiv (Plovdiv)
Mon - 8 Apr 2024
 PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv 10 PFC Cherno More VarnaStadion Lokomotiv (Plovdiv)