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

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

German Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, 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 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 32 last Wednesday, setting up a meeting with Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke of the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living entity, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone shows how deeply this stadium's history is rooted in the memories of those who were once just fans, or who 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, setting up the winning goal for teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England lost to Argentina in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting he believes in 'karma' — that what you sow, you reap.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. They helped spread the 'Mexican wave' worldwide, an idea that originated in the United States. Their vocal impact and collective rhythm showed their ability to move the entire stadium at will, and they added chants that became part of popular culture and are still present today.

Aguirre, Mexico's coach, believes playing in Mexico City gives additional strength (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not in favor of the home side, the relationship between 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) welcomed 80,824 spectators in each of coach Javier Aguirre's team's three matches, with very limited attendance from opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on the opponents even before the kickoff.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, told 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 huge motivation.'

Mexico has won all its four World Cup matches so far, sparking wild celebrations on the pitch. After the 2-0 win over Ecuador, pictures and videos spread 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 passionately 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. Speaking on the BBC, former England internationals 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 home side's most prominent weapon against the English (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, the atmosphere you feel when it's full of Mexicans. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. 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 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, 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 ground.'

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 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 Mexico City Stadium itself: everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.