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 both seek a place in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, said: 'It is a good 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 date with Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

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

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

In that same edition, England lost to the tango dancers in the quarterfinals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel acknowledging he believes in 'karma'—that what you sow, you reap.

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

Mexico coach Aguirre believes playing in Mexico City gives additional strength (AFP).

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

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

Mexico has won all its four World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the pitch. After a 2-0 victory over Ecuador, images and videos circulated 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?

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

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become a key topic of discussion in both countries. During an appearance on the BBC, former England 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.

Mexican stands... the hosts' most prominent weapon against the English (Reuters).

For his part, Javier Hernandez told 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's 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 harder.'

The visual archives, stories from 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. 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, anticipation has reached its peak.

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

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.'

He may have meant the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to 'Mexico City Stadium' itself; everyone who steps foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.