Djed Spence will play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup wearing a chin guard. The England defender broke his jaw last month after colliding with Chelsea’s Liam Delap, and he is already training with the national team while wearing the protective gear.
Spence said the guard has become part of the job, even if it is uncomfortable. He also played in England’s final match of the season against Everton while wearing it, then turned up in the mask when England beat New Zealand 1-0 on the 6th.
Spence on the chin guard
“Wearing the guard is a bit uncomfortable, but it's unavoidable. Since I have to wear it throughout the tournament, I'm getting used to it even during training in the heat. I already played in the match against Everton, which was the final game of the season, while wearing it.”
He said the recovery will take time. “It will take three months to fully recover. It's painful, but fortunately, football is played with feet, not chins,” Spence said, drawing a line under the injury while making clear the tournament will not wait for him.
England's left flank role
The injury comes after a difficult season with Tottenham, but Thomas Tuchel still called him into the England squad and identified him as the fastest player in the group. Spence’s main position is right-back, yet he is expected to continue covering the left flank at the World Cup.
That shift adds another layer to the opening weeks of the tournament. Spence said, “I am confident in one-on-one defending, but attacking from the left feels a bit different since it's not my original position. However, I am grateful that the manager trusts and selects me. I will repay that trust with good performances.”
Tuchel's call and Spence's response
Spence also addressed Tuchel’s pace assessment with a simple answer: “I don't check specific records related to speed,” he said. “There are a few other fast players on the national team, but I believe I am the fastest.”
For England, the practical change is straightforward. One of their squad players is carrying a fractured jaw into a World Cup and will do it with a chin guard already tested in matches and training. The next step is not a return date; it is whether Spence can keep handling the left side while playing through the recovery window he set at three months.
