In a sport of headers and constant collisions, a fractured jaw would seem like a tournament-ending injury.
Not so much at the 2026 World Cup.
Austria defender Stefan Posch and England defender Djed Spence stand out on the field for the black jaw braces they have been wearing in matches.
Players have long had to wear face protections for injuries like fractured cheek bones or broken noses.
Frances’ Kylian Mbappé wore a face mask during the 2024 European Championship after breaking his nose in the opening match. Former Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech wore a helmet for years after a near fatal collision and skull injury during a match.