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

The two teams meet in a highly anticipated Round of 16 clash in the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, said: 'It's a fitting moment to reconcile 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 on 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 suffices to show how deeply this stadium's history is rooted in the memory of those who were once merely fans, or who grew up on stories told by their predecessors, 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 after setting up the winning goal for teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England had lost to the tango dancers in the quarterfinals 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 back 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. They also added chants that became part of popular culture and remain present today.

Agüero, 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 renovation project that lasted four years while preserving the stadium's spirit, the Mexico City stadium (formerly Azteca) welcomed 80,824 spectators for each of coach Javier Aguirre's team's three matches, with very limited presence of opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the opening whistle.

Aguirre praised the importance of fan support, saying in comments published on 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 a huge boost.'

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

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

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a major topic of discussion in both countries. Speaking on the BBC, former England internationals 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).

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. 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 mystique around this colossal venue that has opened its doors to the world once again. Ahead of the Round of 16 match, which will be the last game in 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 ground.'

This comes as Mexico has not lost a World Cup match on home soil, with their last loss there dating back to 2013 against Honduras in the final stage 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 means the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to the Mexico City stadium itself: everyone who steps foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.