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 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 seeking a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, said: 'It is a fitting moment to reconcile with this stadium. It will reward us.'

Tuchel's remarks came after England's hard-fought 2-1 victory over DR Congo on Wednesday in the Round of 32, setting up a date with Mexico in the next round in Mexico City.

Tuchel spoke about the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living entity, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone demonstrates how deeply the stadium's history is embedded in the memory of those who were once just fans, or grew up on stories told by previous generations, and now write their own chapters on the global 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, setting up the title-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 that he believes in karma—that what one sows, one reaps.

Even back then, the Mexican fans had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. They helped spread the 'Mexican wave' globally—an idea originating in the United States—and their vocal impact and collective rhythm showed their ability to move the entire stadium at will. They also added chants that became part of pop culture and remain present today.

Aguirre, Mexico's coach, believes playing in Mexico City provides an extra boost (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments did not involve the home side, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into an almost complete unity.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the stadium's spirit, the Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) hosted 80,824 spectators at each of coach Javier Aguirre's team's three matches, with very limited presence of opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on rivals even before the kickoff.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in remarks cited 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 a huge boost.'

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the field. After the 2-0 victory over Ecuador, images and videos spread of players singing and hugging with 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 popular national songs.

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

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

For his part, Javier Hernández 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 is filled with Mexicans. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. Of course, that makes the task more difficult.'

Photographic archives, narratives 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 again. 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, anticipation has reached its peak.

Tuchel, referring to some 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 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 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.