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 highly anticipated clash in the Round of 16 of the World Cup, currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek a spot in the quarterfinals.

Germany's Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England team, said: 'It's 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 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 memory of those who were once mere fans, or who grew up on stories told by those before them, and today are writing their own chapters on the world stage.

Before the start of 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, 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 is, what one sows comes 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, still present today.

Mexico coach Aguirre believes that playing in Mexico City gives extra 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 almost a complete unity.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the stadium's spirit, Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) welcomed 80,824 spectators in each of the three matches of coach Javier Aguirre's team, with very limited attendance from opposing team 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 at home. He is our 12th player. We know that 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 lively celebrations on the field. After a 2-0 win over Ecuador, pictures and videos circulated of players singing and embracing fans, raising a simple question: Were the fans singing to the players, or were the players singing to the fans?

Fans interact with great enthusiasm with the team, constantly chanting famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become an important 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 would be England's toughest test in the tournament.

The Mexican stands... the most prominent weapon of the home team in the face of 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, 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 more difficult.'

The visual archives, the stories of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant edifice that opened its doors to the world once again. Before the Round of 16 match, which will be the last match of the tournament on Mexican soil before the entire competition moves to the United States, the anticipation has reached its peak.

Tuchel, referring to some of the 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 soil.'

This comes at a time when Mexico has not lost any World Cup match on home soil, while their last defeat there dates back to 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.'

He may mean the Mexico national team, but the phrase also applies to 'Mexico City Stadium' itself, for everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.