ˈɪliːv ˈɜːnd hɪz fˈɜːst kˈæp wɪð bʌlɡˈɛɹiə ɪn ɐ fɹˈɛndli mˈætʃ ɐɡˈɛnst tˈɜːki ˌɔn twˈɛnti wˈʌn ˈɔːɡəst nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti wˈʌn ɪn stˈɑːɹɹə zˈæɡoːɹə.
Iliev earned his first cap with Bulgaria in a friendly match against Turkey on 21 August 1991 in Stara Zagora.