"Have to get used to it": Djed Spence to wear protective mask at FIFA World Cup after jaw injury
New Delhi, June 9
England defender Djed Spence has said he will likely need to wear a protective mask during the FIFA World Cup 2026 after breaking his jaw in an English Premier League match last month.
The Tottenham Hotspur player picked up the injury following a collision with Chelsea striker Liam Delap and later featured with a mask in his side's final league game of the season against Everton.
Spence, who completed the match against Chelsea despite the setback, said he was never overly concerned about the possibility of missing out due to the injury.
"It's a little bit uncomfortable but it is what it is," Spence told reporters on Monday, as quoted by Reuters.
"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. It'll be three months until it's fully healed, so it's a long time. It was painful but luckily I play football with my feet and not my jaw. So I was all good," the 25-year-old added.
The 48-nation tournament will see 1,248 players compete across 104 matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
England, the 1966 FIFA World Cup champions, will begin their 2026 World Cup campaign in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. The Three Lions open their tournament against Croatia on June 17 at Dallas Stadium before facing Ghana on June 23 in Boston and Panama on June 27 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
England's 26-man squad for the tournament includes experienced names such as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Jordan Pickford and Bukayo Saka. The squad also features emerging talents including Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Rogers and Tino Livramento.
England will be aiming to add a second World Cup title to the one they won in 1966, when they defeated West Germany in the final at Wembley Stadium.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Respect for Spence! 🫡 But honestly, I'm more excited about seeing how teams like Ghana and Panama fare in a bigger tournament. Also, England vs Ghana on June 23 will be a cracker - hoping for some African magic against the Three Lions!
Mask or no mask, England's squad looks strong on paper. But let's be real - their "golden generation" always chokes in knockouts. 1966 was ages ago. Kane needs to step up if they want another title. 😅
As someone who follows EPL closely, Spence has been underrated. His recovery is commendable. But I wish the article focused more on how the injury happened - that collision with Delap sounded nasty. Safety in football needs more attention!
India needs to be in the World Cup man! With 48 teams now, there's no excuse. We have the population and passion, but our infrastructure and grassroots development is a joke. Spence playing with a mask shows the mentality we lack.
Three months recovery time? That's a long haul. But it's great that modern medicine and masks allow him to still play at this level. England's group looks manageable - Croatia are aging, Ghana is unpredictable, and Panama are minnows. Should top the group easily.
K We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.