Marinko Buric and his family have their red and white Croatian soccer jerseys ready for when theyB次元官网网址檒l visit a friendB次元官网网址檚 house to watch Canada and Croatia play at the World Cup this Sunday.

Buric expects it to be a noisy morning, with a big breakfast and lots of cheering for the team from Croatia, despite the fact that itB次元官网网址檚 CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first time at the tournament in decades.

B次元官网网址淚 have always been much closer, when it comes to soccer, to the Croatian national team than the Canadian one,B次元官网网址� said Buric, a Halton Hills, Ont., resident who was born in Canada and is of Croatian descent.

B次元官网网址淪occer is a big part of the culture in Croatia.B次元官网网址�

While many Canadians will be cheering on their menB次元官网网址檚 soccer team, numerous Canadians of Croatian descent say their loyalties lie with the opposing team.

Susan Katana Cork said it had been hard for her to choose between the two teams but she ultimately decided to cheer for Croatia.

B次元官网网址淚 am almost torn in a sense because I am a Canadian, but I am also Croatian because of my family heritage,B次元官网网址� said the Markham, Ont., resident. B次元官网网址淚 would like to see Croatia win despite the fact that B次元官网网址� I was born and raised in Canada.B次元官网网址�

Canada is playing at the World Cup for the first time in 36 years and SundayB次元官网网址檚 match will mark its second game at the tournament taking place in Qatar.

CroatiaB次元官网网址檚 soccer team is making its sixth World Cup appearance since the country gained independence in 1991. The team came third in 1998 and lost the final to France in 2018.

Erica Zlomislic, a director at the Croatian Heritage Association, said though she loves Canada, she hopes Croatia clinches the match.

B次元官网网址淲hen it comes to sports, people have divided loyalties,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that she is planning to watch the game with her family at home in Toronto.

B次元官网网址淐roatia is a very small country of less than five million people. But we have excellent people in sports B次元官网网址�. For a country that small, it is amazing how well we do.B次元官网网址�

Zlomislic, a Canadian of Croatian descent, spent years as a journalist covering the war in Croatia in the early 1990s. SheB次元官网网址檚 so fond of CroatiaB次元官网网址檚 team that sheB次元官网网址檚 even kept its jersey from 1998 World Cup.

She said she hopes Canada, which is playing in group F, advances to the next stage of the tournament but sheB次元官网网址檚 rooting for Croatia to win the World Cup.

The World Cup began last Sunday amid controversy surrounding host country QatarB次元官网网址檚 human rights record. Human Rights Watch criticized the alleged abuse of migrant workers employed to build World Cup infrastructure, and violence against the LGBTQ community. Qatar has said B次元官网网址渆veryoneB次元官网网址� is welcome to visit during the World Cup but they should respect the countryB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渃ulture.B次元官网网址�

Canada defeated Mexico and the U.S., two powerful teams, among others in the World Cup qualifier matches, defying expectations as it cleared its path towards Qatar.

Despite playing in a relatively difficult group B次元官网网址� Canada lost its first game 1-0 to Belgium B次元官网网址� Canada has a chance to advance to the knockout stage given its strong performance during qualifying competitions, said Marko Gotovac, a coach at Mississauga Croatia Soccer Club.

B次元官网网址淲hen you look at Canadian soccer, certainly I would consider this team in this generation probably the best we have had in the history of our game here in Canada,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚 am sure that they will give trouble to every team that is in the tournament.B次元官网网址�

Gotovac said the Canadian side has stars like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David in its roster, and all the teamB次元官网网址檚 players this year have served as role models for many of the young players he coaches.

B次元官网网址淐anadian boys are going to come out there and have that fighting Canadian spirit,B次元官网网址� Gotovac said.

B次元官网网址淢y wish is for a high-quality match and whoever wins that match between Croatia and Canada, I am sure they deserve it.B次元官网网址�

Canada is set to play Morocco next in a match on Thursday.

B次元官网网址擲harif Hassan, The Canadian Press