Djed Spence plays World Cup 2026 with broken jaw after Delap elbow in May

Djed Spence is competing at World Cup 2026 with a broken jaw, protected by a custom-made guard after suffering a fracture during Tottenham’s Premier League fixture against Chelsea in May. Chelsea striker Liam Delap caught the full-back in the face with an elbow during a challenge for a high ball, yet Spence completed the full 90 minutes before the severity of the injury became clear.

Spence first appeared in the protective jaw guard five days after the Chelsea match, in a game against Everton, a 1-0 victory that helped Tottenham preserve their Premier League status. He has worn it in every appearance since, including England’s pre-tournament warm-up wins over New Zealand and Costa Rica.

The Spurs defender drew widespread attention when he came on as a second-half substitute in England’s opening World Cup group game — a 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas — with viewers quickly noticing the distinctive piece of headgear.

Spence has been candid about the discomfort involved. “It’s a little bit uncomfortable, but it is what it is,” he said. “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 staff have confirmed the jawbone requires approximately three months to heal completely, meaning Spence will continue wearing the guard in training and in matches for the foreseeable future. England face Ghana in their second group-stage fixture on Tuesday night, with manager Thomas Tuchel looking to build on the momentum of the Croatia result.