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

The two teams meet in a eagerly awaited Round of 16 clash in the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as they vie for a spot in the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of England, said: 'It is an appropriate moment 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 Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke of the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment. 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 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 tournament, 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 Argentina in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel acknowledging his belief in 'karma' – that what one sows, one reaps later.

Even then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. They helped spread 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 added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

Agüirre, Mexico's coach, 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 almost 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 for each of the three matches of coach Javier Agüirre's team, with very limited presence of opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the kickoff.

Agüirre, 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 is our 12th player. We know the entire country is behind us, and that gives us tremendous motivation.'

Mexico has won all of its four World Cup matches so far, sparking loud celebrations on the pitch. After the 2-0 victory over Ecuador, images 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 enthusiastically with the team, constantly repeating famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become an important topic of discussion in both countries. During their talk on the BBC, former England internationals Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney warned that playing in this historic stadium in front of this passionate crowd will 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 told Fox Sports, speaking about the importance of playing in the historic Azteca stadium: 'What that legendary stadium represents, 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. And of course, that makes the task even harder.'

Archival footage, 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 again. Before 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 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 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 meant the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to the Mexico City Stadium itself: everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.