The national game has fallen into decline and officials, including Borislav Mihaylov who was the 1994 goalkeeper, want the state to step in and rescue it.
"Football is a social phenomenon and I believe that the state should take care of it," Mihaylov, now the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) president, told reporters. "We're trying hard to keep a decent level but it's not enough."
The first generation of players who were allowed to compete abroad after the 1989 fall of Communist rule united the nation and even reduced crime with their scintillating run at the 1994 World Cup.
Reaching the quarter-finals was far more than had been expected from the 50-1 underdogs and as a wave of euphoria swept through Bulgaria, police reported that the crime rate had dropped significantly.
"The most important thing was that we managed to unite the whole nation," Ivaylo Yordanov, who played in five matches during the 1994 finals, told Reuters at the anniversary match on Friday. "We did something that many politicians have failed to do so far."
On July 10, 1994, Bulgaria came from a goal down to beat Germany 2-1 at Giants Stadium, New York, and reach the last four.
Captain Lothar Matthaeus had put Germany in front with a penalty soon after the interval but Bulgaria battled back.
Stoichkov levelled the score by curling a rasping free kick that gave keeper Bodo Ilgner no chance in the 75th minute and midfielder Yordan Lechkov thundered home a perfect diving header three minutes later.
"It's difficult to explain how we managed to achieve that," midfield maestro Krasimir Balakov told Reuters. "Let's just say that God was Bulgarian that summer."
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Stoichkov, who was the tournament's joint top scorer with six goals, was on the mind of the Italians before the ensuing semi-final.
"How will you stop Stoichkov?" a journalist asked Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi before the game.
"I don't know, maybe with a pistol," replied Sacchi.
Bulgaria came close to another upset but lost 2-1 to Italy, complaining that French referee Joel Quiniou had not awarded a penalty for a "clear hand ball" in the penalty area.
"God was still on our side but the referee was French," said the straight-talking Stoichkov after the final whistle.
Bulgaria's journey to the finals had begun with speedy winger Emil Kostadinov earning them a sensational victory over France in Paris with a goal from virtually the last kick of their final qualifying match in 1993.
They looked likely to live up to their underdog label when they were beaten 3-0 by African champions Nigeria at the start of the tournament.
The painful defeat, Bulgaria's 17th game without a win in six World Cup finals,
