Why Djed Spence both wears and takes off jaw brace on his face for England at World Cup

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Why Djed Spence both wears and takes off jaw brace on his face for England at World Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Djed Spence has worn a jaw brace on his face for most of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

But during England's quarterfinal win over Norway, he took off the headpiece midway through his appearance. So apparently he can go with both options.

It's not certain which look he may have against Argentina, but both are apparently in play.

It's certainly a lot more noticeable if Spence does wear the jaw brace than if he doesn't, but either side of the coin ends up being a fascinating call for the English fullback.

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Why is Djed Spence wearing that on his face?​

Spence broke his jaw near the end of the English Premier League season.

He got hurt in May as Spurs took on Chelsea in the English Premier League.

Spence took an elbow to the face from Liam Delap that broke his jaw.

Spence actually finished that match against Chelsea despite the injury, and he was back as a sub five days later.

According to the Mirror, a broken jaw can take three months to recover, so Spence used this equipment to protect it in the meantime.

The Mirror adds: "The mask is a custom-molded, carbon-fiber shield designed specifically to absorb shocks and protect his healing bone. It covers his jawline, allowing him to confidently head the ball and engage in physical duels."

Why did Djed Spence stop wearing the jaw brace against Norway?​

The humidity of that match, played in Florida, caused the jaw brace to start slipping off his face.

So instead of dealing with the annoyance, Spence got rid of it.

He's likely near the end of his recovery, although whether he wears it or not against Argentina will likely answer that question more fully.

The World Cup semifinal is indoors in Atlanta, which could certainly change the humidity and sweat equation as it pertains to Spence's jaw brace.

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