What has Djed Spence received on his face vs Ghana as England star carrying headguard defined

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Djed Spence has been wearing a striking protective face mask during England’s World Cup 2026 campaign, as we explain the reason behind the Tottenham defender’s very unusual headgear

What is Djed Spence wearing on his face at World Cup 2026?

• Protective gear: Tottenham defender Djed Spence has been donning a bespoke protective jaw guard throughout World Cup 2026. The specialist medical equipment is necessary as the player continues his recovery from a fractured jaw.
• Incident: The break happened during a Premier League clash between Tottenham and Chelsea in May. Chelsea forward Liam Delap caught Spence in the face with an elbow while competing for an aerial ball, yet the injured full-back managed to see out the entire 90 minutes.
• Debut: Spence first donned the protective gear five days afterwards against Everton once the severity of the injury became apparent. It enabled him to feature safely and helped his side claim a 1-0 triumph, which secured their Premier League status.
• What Spence has said: Regarding his rehabilitation and the mask, he commented: “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.”, reports the Mirror.
• Pre-World Cup friendlies: Spence trialled the jaw guard by featuring in England’s preparation matches before the tournament. He put the guard through its paces on the international stage during consecutive victories over New Zealand and Costa Rica.
• Healing process: Medical staff have calculated that the jawbone will require approximately three full months to mend completely. Given this timeframe, Spence will continue to don the protective guard throughout all training sessions and matches.
• Building on foundations: England demolished Croatia with a brilliant 4-2 victory in Dallas last week. The Spurs defender entered the fray during the second half and supporters couldn’t help but notice the distinctive headgear he was sporting.
• England’s second group stage encounter: England will face Ghana at 9pm UK time on Tuesday night. Thomas Tuchel will be keen to build upon the Three Lions’ magnificent display in their opening group fixture against Croatia, while Spence, who caught the eye during a brief appearance against Croatia, will also be brimming with confidence.