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 clash between Mexico and England.

The two teams meet in a much-anticipated match in the round of 16 of the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with both aiming to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, the head coach of England, said: 'It is the right 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 on Wednesday in the round of 32, setting up a meeting with Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke about the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone reveals how deeply the stadium's history is embedded in the memory of those who were once just fans or grew up on stories told by their predecessors, and now write their own chapters on the global 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 the 'Tango dancers' in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting he believes in 'karma' — that what one sows, one reaps.

Even then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. They helped popularize 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. They also added chants that became part of popular culture and remain present today.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not in favor of the home team, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years to become 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 team's three matches, with very limited attendance from opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the starting whistle.

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

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the pitch. After the 2-0 win over Ecuador, photos and videos spread of players singing and embracing 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 a key 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.

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, and the atmosphere you feel when it is 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 video archives, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique around this giant edifice that opened its doors to the world again. And ahead of the round of 16 match, which will be the last match of 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 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.

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

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