England defender Djed Spence has confirmed he will likely need to wear a protective mask during the FIFA World Cup 2026 after suffering a broken jaw in an English Premier League match last month. The Tottenham Hotspur player sustained the injury following a collision with Chelsea striker Liam Delap and later played with a mask in his team's final league game of the season against Everton.
Spence Unfazed by Injury
Spence, who completed the match against Chelsea despite the setback, said he was never overly concerned about missing the World Cup 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'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.
World Cup 2026 Details
The 48-nation tournament will feature 1,248 players competing across 104 matches in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. England, the 1966 FIFA World Cup champions, will begin their 2026 campaign in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. The Three Lions open against Croatia on June 17 at Dallas Stadium, then face Ghana on June 23 in Boston, and conclude group play against Panama on June 27 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
England Squad
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 like Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Rogers, and Tino Livramento. England will aim 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.
