Djed Spence has spent the 2026 World Cup wearing a custom-fitted protective face mask, a reminder that the England defender is still working back from a jaw fracture he suffered in May.
The injury happened during Tottenham's Premier League match against Chelsea in the closing weeks of the season. Five days later, Spence was back on the pitch with specialist protective headgear as Tottenham beat Everton, and the same issue has followed him into international competition.
Playing through the injury
Spence has worn the mask in training sessions and every match at the tournament, and England head coach Thomas Tuchel has continued to use him in different roles. In the group stage, Tuchel started him at left-back against Ghana and at right-back against Panama. At the Round of 32, Spence started England's match against DR Congo, showing that he remains part of the plan despite the discomfort.
Spence has said the mask is not exactly comfortable, but he views it as something he has to accept while the jaw heals. He also noted that the injury was painful, before adding that he plays football with his feet, not his jaw, so he is able to keep going.
What the injury means
The key detail is that the jaw has not fully healed yet. Spence has said it will take around three months for full recovery, which explains why the mask has become part of his tournament routine. For England, that means a player Tuchel trusts can still be used, but with the added reality that he is managing a recent fracture rather than playing at full physical comfort.
Against Mexico, Spence was available for Tuchel but was set to start on the bench. That suggests England are still balancing his value on the field with the need to handle his recovery carefully. Even so, his presence in multiple positions has made him a useful option throughout the World Cup.
For Spence, the situation is straightforward: the mask is there because the injury is still healing, and until that changes, it will stay part of his matchday routine.
