The co-hosts of this summer’s tournament in North America are preparing to compete in their third World Cup, after appearances in 1986 and 2022. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, meanwhile, it will be their second time on the global stage after 2014, when Begovic was between their posts for each of their three games in Brazil.

That was a momentous and celebratory period in Bosnia’s short history as an independent nation. The Balkan Wars of the early 1990s had torn the region apart and forced many, including the Begovic family, to flee. The young Asmir moved first to Germany where, as a little boy, he began learning the art of goalkeeping under the tutelage of his father, also a footballer.

When he was ten years old, Begovic had to resettle again, this time moving to Edmonton in Canada.

‘At that time, 25-plus years ago now, football was a sport people in Canada played for fun, but in terms of professionalism and opportunities, there was very, very little,’ Begovic tells us.

‘Ice hockey is a religion in Canada. There’s a rink on every corner. Whereas football was not developed at all. It’s completely different now. It’s a night and day transformation.

‘I haven’t been to Canada much since I left (as a 16-year-old to join Portsmouth) but I keep in touch with what’s going on, and you can see it’s really a very different landscape now compared to what it used to be. The opportunities for kids, the more organised coaching, the number of coaches, professional teams in MLS and the professional Canadian Premier League – everything has shot up.’

Begovic’s career has gone on to include many successful years in the English Premier League, including at Chelsea. He played 31 times for us during his two seasons at the Bridge between 2015 and 2017, getting his hands on the title in the second of those campaigns.

Begovic has also represented Stoke (for whom he famously scored a Premier League goal), Bournemouth and QPR with distinction, and the dedication he has shown to his craft has enabled him to keep playing late into his thirties. He is currently with Leicester City.

But it is his time wearing the shirt of Bosnia that burns brightest in his career highlights. He was central to the Dragons' successful World Cup qualification campaign in 2013, with a 1-0 victory away to Lithuania securing their place at the tournament in Brazil.

‘Those are the moments you work for and dream about,’ says Begovic.

‘Qualifying for any World Cup is incredible, but when you take into consideration it was Bosnia's first ever major tournament, and that all us displaced players - kids at those times [during the wars] - came together for this one common goal, to get Bosnia to a major tournament, it's an incredibly special feeling. The reaction in Sarajevo when we came back after the game was priceless.

‘Football is the number one sport in Bosnia. Everyone is incredibly passionate about it. My family played a big role in my decision to play for Bosnia, not just my parents but other family – aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents – who live and breathe for the national team. They were incredibly proud to come to watch me play for Bosnia.’

At the 2014 World Cup, Bosnia did their nation – of around three million people – proud. They were narrowly beaten by Argentina and Nigeria before winning 3-1 against Iran. Their progression to the knockout stage hinged on the 1-0 loss to the Super Eagles, when Edin Dzeko had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside when the game was goalless.

‘The World Cup is without a doubt the highlight of my career,’ Begovic reflects.

‘It was as good as it gets. Winning the league with Chelsea and winning other trophies was right up there for sure, but when you take into consideration what it meant to Bosnia, what it meant to us players playing the World Cup in Brazil, and our opening game being at the Maracana against Argentina and Lionel Messi, it doesn't get any better than that.

‘Unfortunately we scored an own goal two minutes into the game against Argentina, and then that decision against Nigeria cost us dearly. Those are the fine margins you need to go your way at a World Cup.

‘And you need a good team, a good camaraderie because you’re away as a group for quite some time. You need quality, of course, you need your key players, and then you need that little bit of luck we didn’t quite get.’

Bosnia qualified for this summer’s tournament by winning dramatic penalty shoot-outs against Wales and then Italy in the play-off round. Begovic says the pressure is off Sergej Barbarez’s side and that while it will be a fantastic learning experience for the many young players in the squad, they can still cause problems in a group containing Switzerland and Qatar.

For Canada, Begovic says, ‘it is an opportunity to grab by its neck’. With the home support behind them, recent World Cup experience and a talented generation of players, Jesse Marsch’s team should expect to get out of the group.

Friday’s meeting in Toronto will set the tone for Group B, and Begovic looks back on 2014 with memories of that opening defeat to Argentina putting them on the back foot immediately, as well as they performed against the eventual runners-up.

‘Canada are looking in better shape at the moment, I would say. They’re coming into it with good, positive vibes and played well in their warm-up games, although Alphonso Davies would be a big miss if he isn’t fit to play.

‘Bosnia have lots of injury concerns and look a bit hobbled. Dzeko hasn’t played for some quite time, but hopefully they’ll be fit and good to go. I’ll be watching with interest, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.’