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 underway in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek a ticket to the quarterfinals.

Germany's Thomas Tuchel, head coach of England, 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 of Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone suffices to show how deeply the stadium's history is embedded in the memory of those who were once mere fans, or 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 final, when the late Argentine star Diego Maradona reached the pinnacle of glory with his national team after setting up the winning goal for 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 that he believes in karma, meaning that what one sows, one reaps later.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating the opponent. 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, and they also added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

Aguiar, Mexico's coach, believes that playing in Mexico City gives extra strength (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not in favor of the home side, the relationship between Mexico's fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into something akin to a complete unity.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the stadium's spirit, Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) welcomed 80,824 spectators at each of the three matches of coach Javier Aguirre's team, 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 comments published on FIFA's official website: 'The biggest difference, undoubtedly, is playing at home. It is our 12th player. We know the whole country is behind us, and that gives us huge motivation.'

Mexico has won all its four World Cup matches so far, sparking loud celebrations on the pitch. After a 2-0 win 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 the stadium has become a key 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 home side's most prominent weapon in the clash against England (Reuters).

For his part, Javier Hernández said 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.'

Archival footage, 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. 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, 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 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 qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Álvaro Fidalgo wrote on his Instagram account after scoring his first goal for Mexico against Czech Republic: 'Once it chooses you, it never leaves you.'

He may be referring to 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.