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 match between Mexico and England.

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

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of England, stated: 'It’s a suitable 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 the next round in Mexico City.

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 mere fans, or who grew up on stories told by those before them, and 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 his 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 he believes in 'karma'—that what one sows, one reaps later.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. It contributed to spreading the 'Mexican Wave' globally, an idea that originated in the United States. Its vocal impact and collective rhythm demonstrated its ability to move the entire stadium at will, and it also added chants that became part of popular culture, still 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 belong to the home side, the relationship between the Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into a complete unity.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the stadium’s spirit, the Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) hosted 80,824 spectators in each of coach Javier Aguirre’s three matches, with very limited attendance by opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the opening whistle.

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

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the pitch. After the 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 enthusiastically with the team, constantly chanting famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a major 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 such passionate fans will be England’s toughest test in the tournament.

Mexican stands... The home side’s most prominent weapon in the clash with England (Reuters)

Meanwhile, Javier Hernández stated on Fox Sports, discussing 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 tough due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. Of course, that makes the task even harder.'

The visual archives, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant structure that has opened its doors to the world once again. Before the Round of 16 match, which will be the last 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 at a time when Mexico has not lost any World Cup match on home soil, while their last defeat there was in 2013 against Honduras in the final round 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 the 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 sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.