In 2012, as part of the Canadian Soccer Association's centennial celebration, he was named to the all-time Canada XI men's team.
[1] Sweeney spent several years with the youth club, Squamish United, and graduated from Howe Sound Secondary School.
He then made the roster at Simon Fraser University as a walk-on, later working his way onto the Canadian squad for the 1978 CONCACAF Youth Tournament.
[3] A defender or midfielder, Sweeney made his senior debut on 17 September 1980 for Canada in a 3–0 victory against New Zealand in a friendly match in Edmonton.
Sweeney was sent off in the second game against Hungary,[5] the only Canadian player ever to be dismissed at a World Cup Finals tournament.