A variable spray direction fuel injection nozzle includes a cylindrical nozzle body having a stepped bore therein defining at one end a first cavity and a second cavity of reduced size terminating at a closed end wall at the opposite end of the nozzle body, the nozzle body further having a fuel inlet in communication with the first cavity, the wall of the nozzle body being provided with a radial through spray orifice extending into the second cavity closely adjacent to the end wall, a cup-shaped, cylindrical valve open at one end being slidably mounted within the second cavity with its open end opening into the first cavity, the valve adjacent to its closed end being provided with a radially extending through slot, the valve being angularly fixed relative to the nozzle body so that the slot in the valve is in angular alignment with the spray orifice in the nozzle body, a spring being positioned within the nozzle body to normally bias the valve in an axial direction relative to the nozzle body whereby the slot in the valve is out of registry with the spray orifice in the nozzle body, but when the pressure of fuel supplied to the first cavity of the nozzle body acting on the valve is sufficient to overcome the biasing action of the spring, the valve will be moved axially within the nozzle body to bring the slot in the valve into registry with the spray orifice in the nozzle body whereby fuel can be discharged out through the spray orifice, a fuel bleed passage opening at one end into the second cavity being provided to control the egress of fuel from a chamber defined in this cavity between the end wall of the nozzle body and the closed end of the valve.