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

The two teams meet in a highly anticipated Round of 16 match in the ongoing World Cup being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek a spot in the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England national team, said: 'It's a fitting moment to make peace 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 last Wednesday in the Round of 32, setting up a meeting with Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke about Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living entity, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone is enough to show how deeply the stadium's history is rooted in the memories 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 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 had lost to Argentina in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting he believes in 'karma,' meaning that what one sows will come back 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. Their vocal impact and collective rhythm demonstrated 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.

Mexico coach Aguirre believes playing in Mexico City gives an extra boost (AFP)

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not achieved by the home team, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into something like a complete unity.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the stadium's spirit, Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) hosted 80,824 spectators in 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 kickoff.

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

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

The fans interact enthusiastically with the team, constantly singing famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become a key topic of discussion in both countries. 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 team'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's 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 even harder.'

The visual archives, the stories of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique around this colossal edifice that opened its doors to the world once again. And ahead of 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, alluding 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 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.'

Perhaps he means the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to Mexico City Stadium itself: whoever steps foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.