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 the national teams of 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 both seek a spot in the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, the head coach of the England national team, stated: 'It is a fitting moment to make peace with this stadium. It will reward us.'

Tuchel's remarks 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 meeting with Mexico in the next round in Mexico City.

Tuchel spoke of the 'Mexico City Stadium' as if it were a living entity, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone suffices to show how deeply rooted the stadium's history is in the memory of those who were once just fans, or grew up on stories told by their predecessors, and today are writing their own chapters on the global stage.

Before 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 championship-winning goal for his teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England had lost to the 'Tango dancers' (Argentina) in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel acknowledging that he believes in 'karma'—that what one sows, one reaps later.

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

Aguirre, Mexico's coach, believes that playing in Mexico City provides additional strength (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments did not favor the home team, the relationship between the Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into something like a complete unity.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the stadium's spirit, the 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 opening whistle.

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

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

The fans interact with great enthusiasm with the team, constantly chanting well-known national songs.

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

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

Meanwhile, Javier Hernández 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. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. Of course, that makes the task more difficult.'

The photographic archives, the narratives of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant edifice that has opened its doors to the world once again. And ahead of the Round of 16 clash, 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 stadium on their home turf.'

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 qualifying 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 the 'Mexico City Stadium' itself, for everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.