Djed Spence wears protective jaw guard at World Cup after broken jaw sustained against Chelsea

Djed Spence is wearing a custom-made protective jaw guard during England’s World Cup 2026 campaign after fracturing his jaw in a Premier League match against Chelsea in May, a injury that required specialist medical equipment to allow him to keep playing.

The Tottenham defender was struck in the face by Chelsea striker Liam Delap’s elbow during a challenge for a high ball. Despite the severity of the injury, Spence refused to leave the pitch and completed the full 90 minutes.

He first appeared in the protective facial brace five days after the incident, in a match against Everton, once the full extent of the damage had been assessed. The guard allowed him to continue playing safely, and Spence was on the pitch as Tottenham secured a 1-0 victory that kept them in the Premier League and avoided relegation.

Spence has since tested the jaw guard in England’s warm-up fixtures against New Zealand and Costa Rica, using both matches to build fitness ahead of the tournament. Medical staff expect the jawbone to take three full months to heal completely, and he continues to wear the device during training sessions as he adapts to the restriction it places on his movement.

England opened their World Cup 2026 Group L campaign against Croatia in Dallas, with Spence included in the official 26-man squad. The Three Lions face Ghana in Foxborough on June 23 before concluding the group stage against Panama in East Rutherford on June 27.