'It felt like a full circle moment': GAIS' Matteo de Brienne reflects on his CanMNT debut
Matteo de Brienne says he had no expectations when he was called up by the Canadian Men's National Team (CanMNT) in early January. Of course, he wanted to showcase his qualities in training and to make a good impression with head coach Jesse Marsch. But when his number was called at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles during a friendly versus Guatemala, he took time to savour the achievement: he was representing Canada internationally.
"It fell like a full circle moment for myself," he tells HFX Football Post. "When my number was called, there were so many emotions in my head. I had family and friends in attendance. Them seeing me live my dream is something I'll remember forever."
The 23-year old full-back has had his fair share of achievements these last few years. From making his professional debut with Valour FC to playing with GAIS in Sweden's top flight, things have moved quickly for de Brienne. Winning the Canadian Premier League's (CPL) Best Canadian U-21 Player award in 2023 spoke to his potential. But he acknowledges nothing is guaranteed in life.
"At Valour, in the beginning, I obviously wasn't up to par, I wasn't the best. It took some time but I was able to learn from the guys around me," he explains, adding being surrounded by the right people has allowed him to develop as a footballer.
Joining Marsch's group for the famed "Camp Poutine" was the next step in the Nepean-native's evolution.
"Jesse, you know, is trying to get the most out of me in terms of saying: 'Oh, you're only going at 75 per cent' when I'm fully dead. He's teaching me different ways of trying to manage that and how to utilize it not only for myself but the guys around me. I think it was a positive thing and I'm taking it with me back to Sweden," says de Brienne. "There's way more to my game than I know."
The last year, of course, has seen de Brienne guarding the flanks for GAIS in Allsvenkan. He says he's learned a lot playing in Europe following his three seasons in the CPL.
He says one of the biggest differences in Sweden is the ability of clubs to punish turnovers and mistakes. In the CPL, he explained, you can be hurt by being careless with the ball. But it's nearly a guaranteed goal if you make a mistake playing versus clubs like Mjällby AIF, who secured UEFA Champions League qualifiers in 2025, or Hammarby.
"It's been a very big shift," says de Brienne.
But there was also a big shift for Canada as Marsch invited several current CPL players, not to mention several alumni — be it Joel Waterman, James Pantemis or de Brienne himself — to the January camp.
De Brienne says the call-ups speak to the developing quality in the league.
"It's great to see so many more young Canadian players with the quality that they have. Given that in the CPL you have Shola (Jimoh), Noah Abatneh and Tiago Coimbra come out and have an exceptional week, it's great to see the progression of the league and, obviously, the quality that's coming with it in Canada," he says.
It wasn't that long ago that de Brienne was making his first professional appearance. But now, four years later, he's had a taste of the national team set up and it isn't something he'll soon forget.
"Having the opportunity to share the the pitch with (great players), to grow with them and learn with them for 10-days has been a surreal experience for myself," he says.
Cover Photo Credit: Canada Soccer
