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, as both seek a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England national team, stated: 'It is 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, 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 entity, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone suffices to show how deeply the stadium's history is rooted in the memory of those who were once just 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 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 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 admitting he believes in 'karma'—that what one sows, one reaps.

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. They also added chants that became part of popular culture and remain present to this day.

Mexico coach Aguirre believes that playing in Mexico City gives an additional strength (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments did not belong to the home team, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years to become something like 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 in each of the three matches of coach Javier Aguirre's team, with very limited presence of opposing team fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the kickoff.

Aguirre, 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 man. We know the entire country is behind us, and that gives us immense motivation.'

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking loud celebrations on the field. After a 2-0 victory over Ecuador, photos and videos circulated 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 with great enthusiasm with the team, constantly chanting famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a key topic 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 this passionate crowd would be England's hardest test in the tournament.

Mexican stands... the home team's most prominent weapon against the English (Reuters).

Meanwhile, 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's filled with Mexicans. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. And of course, that makes the mission more difficult.'

The visual archives, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant structure that opens its doors to the world once again. And 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 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 the Czech Republic: 'Once you choose it, it never leaves you.'

He may have meant the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to the Mexico City Stadium itself—whoever sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.