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

The two teams meet in a highly anticipated clash in the round of 16 of the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, the technical director of the England national team, stated: 'It's a fitting 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 of the tournament, 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 is enough to show how deeply rooted this stadium's history is 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 the start of this edition, the last World Cup match hosted by this legendary stadium was the 1986 World Cup final, when the late Argentine star Diego Maradona reached the peak 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' in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting that he believes in 'karma', meaning that what one sows, one reaps later.

Even at that time, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating the opponent. 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 added chants that became part of popular culture and are still present today.

Aguirre, Mexico coach, believes playing in Mexico City gives 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 almost a complete unity.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the spirit of the stadium, Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) received 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 opening whistle.

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

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

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

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become an important topic of discussion in both countries. During their talks on the BBC, former England internationals 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.

The Mexican stands... the home team's most prominent weapon in the face of the English (Reuters).

For his part, Javier Hernandez 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 archived 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. And ahead of 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 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 ground.'

This comes at a time when Mexico has not lost any World Cup match on home soil, while their last defeat there dates back to 2013 against Honduras in the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Alvaro Fidalgo wrote on his Instagram account after scoring his first goal for Mexico against Czech Republic: 'Once you choose it, it never leaves you.'

He might mean the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to Mexico City Stadium itself: everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.