The historic Mexico City Stadium bids farewell to this edition of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday evening local time, as it hosts the anticipated clash between Mexico and England.

The two teams meet in a highly anticipated Round of 16 match in the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as they seek a ticket to the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, the head coach of England, said: "It's a good time to make peace with this stadium. It will reward us."

Tuchel's comments came after England's hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo last Wednesday in the Round of 32, setting up a date with Mexico in the capital Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke of "Mexico City Stadium" as if it were a living entity, capable of reward and punishment, and this statement alone is enough to show how deeply the stadium's history is rooted in the memory of those who were once just fans, or who grew up on stories told by those before them, and now write their own chapters on the world stage.

Before the start of this edition, the last World Cup match hosted by this legendary stadium was the final of the 1986 World Cup, when the late Argentine star Diego Maradona reached the pinnacle of glory with his national team after setting up the title-winning goal for his teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England lost to the team of the 'Tango dancers' in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match, and today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel acknowledging that he believes in 'karma,' meaning that what a person sows, they will later reap.

Even at that time, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating the opponent. They contributed to spreading the 'Mexican wave' globally, an idea that originated in the United States, and their vocal impact and collective rhythm showed their ability to move the entire stadium at will, and they also added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

Mexico coach Aguirre believes that playing in Mexico City gives an extra strength (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not for the home side, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years to become like a complete unity.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the stadium's spirit, Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) welcomed 80,824 spectators in each of the three matches of coach Javier Aguirre's team, with very limited presence of opposing team fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the starting whistle.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in comments reported by FIFA's official website: "The biggest difference, without a doubt, is playing at home. It's our 12th player. We know the entire country is behind us, and this gives us huge motivation."

Mexico has won all its four World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the pitch. After the 2-0 win over Ecuador, photos and videos spread of players singing and embracing with fans, raising a simple question: Were the fans singing to the players, or were the players singing to the fans?

Fans interact with great enthusiasm with the team, constantly chanting famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a major topic of discussion in both countries, and during their talk on the BBC, former English international stars Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney warned that playing at this historic stadium in front of this passionate crowd would be England's toughest test in the tournament.

The Mexican stands... the home side's most prominent weapon in facing the English (Reuters).

For his part, Javier Hernandez stated on Fox Sports, speaking about the importance of playing at the historic Azteca Stadium: "What that legendary stadium represents, and the atmosphere you feel when it is filled with Mexicans. In addition, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. And of course, that makes the task even harder."

The visual archives, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this colossal edifice that has opened its doors to the world once again. And ahead of the Round of 16 match, which will be the last match of the tournament on Mexican soil before the competition moves entirely to the United States, the anticipation has reached its peak.

Tuchel revealed, referring to some challenges awaiting his team against Mexico: "We will face an entire country, and we will play in front of a full-capacity stadium on their home ground."

This comes at a time when Mexico has not lost any World Cup match on home soil, with their last defeat there dating back to 2013 against Honduras in the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Álvaro Fidalgo wrote on his Instagram account after scoring his first goal for Mexico against the Czech Republic: "Once you choose it, it never leaves you."

Perhaps he meant the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to "Mexico City Stadium" itself; everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.