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 tournament currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, both vying for a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, 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 meeting 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. This statement alone illustrates how deeply the stadium's history is rooted in the memory of those who were once just fans or grew up on stories told by those before them, 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 title-winning goal for teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England lost to Argentina in the quarterfinals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting he believes in karma—that what one sows, they will later reap.

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 demonstrated their ability to move the entire stadium at will, and they added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not achieved by the home team, the relationship between Mexico's 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, Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) welcomed 80,824 spectators for each of coach Javier Aguirre's three matches, with very limited presence of opposing team fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on rivals even before the opening whistle.

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

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the field. After a 2-0 victory over Ecuador, photos and videos circulated of players singing and embracing with 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 popular national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become an important topic of discussion in both countries. During their talk on the BBC, former England internationals Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney warned that playing at this historic stadium in front of this passionate crowd will be England's toughest test in the tournament.

Mexican stands... the hosts' most prominent weapon against the English (Reuters).

Javier Hernandez, speaking on Fox Sports, discussed the importance of playing at the historic Azteca Stadium: 'What that legendary stadium represents, 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 task even harder.'

The visual archives, stories of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this massive structure that opened its doors to the world again. 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, anticipation has reached its peak.

Tuchel, alluding to some challenges ahead for 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 any World Cup match on home soil, with their last defeat there dating back to 2013 against Honduras in the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Alvaro Fidalgo wrote on his Instagram account after scoring his first goal for Mexico against Czech Republic: 'Once you choose it, it never lets you go.'

He might 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.