Why is Djed Spence Wearing a Special Mask at the World Cup?

Published July 11, 2026, 4:05 p.m. ET

Meet Djed Spence

Djed Spence is a soccer player who helps protect his team’s goal (we call him a defender). He plays for a club team called Tottenham Hotspur in England. Right now, he is also playing for his country, England, in the World Cup (the biggest soccer tournament where nations compete). England’s team is often called the Three Lions because of the three lion pictures on their badge.

The Curious Mask

When fans watch Spence play for England, they see something unusual on his face:

• He is wearing a carbon fiber face mask.
• Carbon fiber is a material that is very light but super strong (think of a superhero shield that doesn’t weigh you down).
• He is not the only one: an Austrian player named Stefan Posch wore a similar mask earlier in the tournament.

How Did His Jaw Get Broken?

Let’s walk through what happened, step by step, like a story:

1. Back in May, Spence’s team, Tottenham, was fighting hard to avoid a historic relegation. (Relegation is when a team does poorly and gets sent down to a lower league — like being moved to a weaker group. “Historic” means it would have been a first in a long time.)
2. During a game against another team called Chelsea, a Chelsea forward (a player whose main job is to score goals) named Liam Delap hit Spence in the face with his elbow.
3. That elbow broke Spence’s jaw — the bone that holds your teeth and shapes your chin.
4. Even though it hurt a lot, Spence stayed in the game! Chelsea ended up winning that match.
5. Amazingly, Spence started the very next match (meaning he was on the field from the beginning) and helped Tottenham stay safe in the top league (called the Premier League).

Why the Mask is Needed Now

Because his jaw is still mending, Spence is being careful. He wears the face mask every time he plays to give his face extra protection from bumps, elbows, or fast‑flying balls.

Important Point: Spence will wear the mask for the entire World Cup! He told the BBC that his jaw will take about three months to fully heal, so he must keep it on the whole tournament.

What Spence Says About the Mask

In his own words (shared by the BBC), here is how he feels:

“It is a little bit uncomfortable – but it is what it is. I have a broken jaw so I have to wear it throughout the tournament.

It is something I will have to get used to. It will be three months until it is fully healed, so it is a long time. It was painful, but luckily I play football with my feet and not my jaw so it is all good.”

So, even though the mask feels weird, he is okay because soccer is played mostly with the feet!

Summary

Let’s recap the key facts:

• Djed Spence is a Tottenham defender playing for England (the Three Lions) in the 2026 World Cup.
• He wears a carbon fiber face mask like Austria’s Stefan Posch.
• In May, he broke his jaw from an elbow by Chelsea’s Liam Delap during a crucial relegation battle.
• He amazingly kept playing, and helped Tottenham avoid dropping to a lower league.
• He must wear the mask the whole tournament because healing takes three months.
• He says it’s uncomfortable but fine since he plays with his feet.

FAQ

Q1: What does “Three Lions” mean?
A: It’s just a friendly nickname for England’s national soccer team, taken from the three lion symbols on their crest.

Q2: What is carbon fiber?
A: It’s a modern material made of tiny strong threads. It’s used in things like race cars and masks because it’s light and tough.

Q3: How did Spence break his jaw?
A: In May, during a game, Chelsea player Liam Delap’s elbow hit his face, causing the break.

Q4: How long until his jaw heals completely?
A: About three months from the injury, so he’ll wear the mask the whole World Cup.

Q5: Did he stop playing after the injury?
A: No! He finished the game he got hurt in, and even started the next match to help his club stay in the top league.