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 clash between Mexico and England.

The two teams meet in a eagerly awaited Round of 16 match in the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, as both seek a ticket to the quarter-finals.

Germany's Thomas Tuchel, head coach of England, stated: 'It's a fitting moment to reconcile with this stadium. He will reward us.'

Tuchel's remarks 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 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 shows how deeply the history of this stadium is rooted in the memory of those who were once just fans, or who 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 peak 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 had lost to the 'Tango dancers' in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel acknowledging he believes in 'karma' – that what one sows, one reaps 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, and their vocal impact and collective rhythm showed their ability to move the entire stadium at will, adding chants that became part of popular culture and remain present to this day.

Aguiar, Mexico's coach, believes 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 like a complete unity.

After a 4-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 three team matches, 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 statements published on 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 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 to the players, or were the players singing to the fans?

Fans interact enthusiastically with the team, constantly chanting famous 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 this passionate crowd 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 stated 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 fills 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 colossal structure that opened its doors to the world again. Ahead of the Round of 16 match, which will be the last 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 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 Czech Republic: 'Once you choose it, it never leaves you.'

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