"The world lives, works, learns, and thrives together," he added.
Local business owners from the Balkan diaspora in Toronto are preparing community events for the opening match.
"perfect storm," said Adis Mrakovic, co-owner of Mrakovic Fine Foods.
"And we're right in the middle of it," added Amir Mrakovic, co-owner of Mrakovic Fine Foods.
The unexpected qualification of Bosnia-Herzegovina over traditional powerhouses surprised the owners.
"It was a shock for everybody," Amir Mrakovic stated.
The brothers felt motivated to arrange a public viewing event to celebrate both aspects of their heritage.
"We felt an obligation to bring people together," Adis Mrakovic explained.
Organizers noted emotional reactions from multi-ethnic fans during pre-tournament jersey exchange campaigns.
"It's very rare to be in a country like ours where you're allowed to have multiple homes in your hearts," Canada Soccer spokesperson Paulo Senra told the Canadian Press.
West Coast host cities are witnessing similar community interactions between diverse supporter groups.
"This is Canadian identity," remarked Ilyas Kayran, member of Istanbul the Band, to the BBC.
Political topics have also emerged during the tournament buildup, with Canada's coach addressing statements from the United States administration.
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"If I have one message to our president, it's lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state," Canada manager Jesse Marsch stated last year.
