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 Round of 16 clash in the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, both vying for a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England national team, said: "It is an opportune moment to reconcile 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 on Wednesday in the Round of 32, setting up the date with Mexico in Mexico City for the next round.

Tuchel spoke of "Mexico City Stadium" as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment, and this statement alone shows how deeply the stadium's history is ingrained in the memory of those who were once mere 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 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 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 (the "Tango dancers") in the quarterfinals in an unforgettable match, and today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting he believes in "karma" — that what one sows returns to them later.

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, and 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 remain present to this day.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not in favor of the home side, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into a near-complete unity.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the stadium's spirit, Mexico City Stadium (formerly the Azteca) welcomed 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 kickoff.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in statements published on 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 is behind us, and that gives us enormous motivation."

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

The fans interact enthusiastically 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, and during their talk on the BBC, former England 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.

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. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. Of course, that makes the task more difficult."

The visual archives, the narratives of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique around this colossal structure 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 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 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 the 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."

He may 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.