The reason why: Djed Spence is wearing a protective mask against Mexico because he is recovering from a severe facial injury.
He sustained a broken jaw just before the 2026 World Cup, making the shield mandatory for his safety.
The specific collision: The fracture happened in May during a tense Premier League match between Tottenham and Chelsea.
He took a heavy, stray elbow to the face from striker Liam Delap during a forceful challenge.
His initial toughness: Showing incredible grit, Spence refused to be substituted and played through the pain to finish that Chelsea match.
