England defender Djed Spence is sporting a custom protective jaw guard during the Three Lions' World Cup 2026 group stage match against Ghana on Tuesday night. The Tottenham full-back sustained a broken jaw in a Premier League clash with Chelsea in May and requires the specialised medical equipment to continue playing safely.
Injury Details and Recovery
The fracture occurred when Chelsea striker Liam Delap caught Spence in the face with an elbow while contesting a high ball. Despite the impact, Spence managed to complete the full 90 minutes of that match. The severity of the injury became apparent later, leading him to start using the protective guard five days later in a crucial 1-0 win against Everton that helped Tottenham secure their Premier League status.
Reflecting on the mask, Spence said: "It's a little bit uncomfortable, but it is what it is. I've got a broken jaw so I have to wear it throughout the tournament. It's something I will have to get used to. It'll be three months until it's fully healed, so it's a long time." Medical personnel estimate the jawbone will take roughly three full months to fully recover, meaning Spence is set to wear the guard during all training sessions and matches for the duration of the tournament.
Pre-World Cup Preparation
Spence tested the jaw guard in England's warm-up fixtures, featuring in consecutive victories against New Zealand and Costa Rica. He then entered England's opening group stage match against Croatia as a second-half substitute, with fans quickly spotting his unique headgear as the Three Lions secured a 4-2 win in Dallas.
England's Second Group Stage Encounter
England face Ghana at 9pm UK time on Tuesday night. Manager Thomas Tuchel aims to build on the team's excellent opening performance against Croatia, while Spence enters the match full of confidence after his impressive late cameo in that first game.
