England defender Djed Spence said he will have to play in a protective mask at the World Cup after suffering a broken jaw during a Premier League match last month.
The Tottenham Hotspur player suffered the injury in a collision with Chelsea striker Liam Delap and had to wear a mask in Spurs’ final game of the season against Everton.
“It’s a little awkward, but it is what it is,” Spence told reporters on Monday.
«I have a broken jaw, so I have to wear it for the entire tournament. It’s something I’ll have to get used to. It will take three months for it to fully heal, so it’s a long time.»
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Spence, who played until the end of the match against Chelsea, said he was not concerned about being sidelined due to the injury.
«It was painful, but luckily I play football with my feet and not my jaw. So it all went well for me,» the 25-year-old added.
England open their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 before taking on Ghana and Panama.
Published on June 9, 2026
