Canada have dropped to 110th in the FIFA rankings after a disastrous run of form which included their group stage exit at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
New manager Benito Floro took charge in August and has not been able to reverse the nation's fortunes, with just one draw - against the 139th-ranked Mauritania - from five matches.
Canada have not played since November last year – when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Slovenia – and Floro will hope they find better form in 2014.
Captain Ivelin Popov – who plays for Kuban Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League – is included but the likes of Ivan Ivanov and Peter Zanev have been left out.
Bulgaria and Canada have never played each other but Penev insists they will be ready for Friday's encounter.
"(The) players are not familiar with Canada but yesterday I introduced them," Penev said.
"So (they) will not be surprised. I'll show them interesting things in defence and attack and be fully prepared.
"I expect to continue on this good line of development and we will try to consolidate and show something new.
"We were unable to qualify for the World Cup. I think we (got what) we deserved. (But we) do not give up the pursuit of higher goals."
