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, with both looking to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England national team, said: 'It's 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 date with Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke about 'Mexico City Stadium' as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone shows how deeply the stadium's history is embedded in the memory of those who were once just fans, raised on stories from those before them, and who 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 by setting up the tournament-winning goal for his teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England had lost to the 'Tango dancers' in an unforgettable quarterfinal match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting 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. They contributed to spreading the 'Mexican wave' globally, an idea that originated in the United States. 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 and are still present today.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments did not favor the home side, 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, Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) welcomed 80,824 spectators in each of coach Javier Aguirre's team's three matches, with very limited attendance from opposing teams' fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the starting whistle.

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

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

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

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become a major topic of discussion in both countries. During a 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 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 even more difficult.'

The visual 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 again. And ahead of the Round of 16 match, which will be the last game of the tournament on Mexican soil before the competition moves entirely to the United States, the 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 turf.'

This comes at a time when Mexico has not lost any World Cup match at home, with its 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 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, for everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.