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 encounter in the Round of 16 of the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as they both seek a spot in the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England national team, stated: 'It's an appropriate 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 about 'Mexico City Stadium' as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone suffices 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 who are now writing their own chapters on the world 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 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, they later reap.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. It contributed to spreading the 'Mexican wave' globally, an idea that originated in the United States. Its vocal impact and collective rhythm demonstrated its ability to move the entire stadium at will, and it added chants that became part of popular culture and remain present to this day.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not in favor of the home team, the relationship between the 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) hosted 80,824 spectators in each of the three matches of coach Javier Aguirre's team, with very limited attendance of opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the kickoff.

Aguirre said, praising the importance of fan support, in statements 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 that gives us tremendous motivation.'

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

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

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

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

For his part, 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. In addition, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. And of course, that makes the task more difficult.'

The visual archives, the narratives of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this gigantic edifice that has opened its doors to the world once again. And before 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 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 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 means the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to 'Mexico City Stadium' itself, as everyone who steps foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.