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

The two teams meet in a highly anticipated encounter in the round of 16 of the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, the head coach of England, stated: "It is a fitting moment to make peace with this stadium. It 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 meeting with Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke about the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living entity, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone suffices to show how deeply the stadium's history is rooted in the memory of those who were once just fans, or grew up on stories told by predecessors, and who are now writing their own chapters on the global stage.

Before the start of this edition, the last World Cup match hosted by this legendary stadium was the final of the 1986 World Cup, when the late Argentine star Diego Maradona reached the pinnacle of glory with his national team after 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' (Argentina) in the quarterfinals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel acknowledging that he believes in 'karma' — 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. Their vocal impact and collective rhythm demonstrated their ability to move the entire stadium at will, and they added chants that became part of popular culture and remain present to this day.

Mexico coach Aguirre believes that playing in Mexico City gives an extra strength (AFP)

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

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in statements reported by the official website of FIFA: "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 a huge motivation."

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking wild celebrations on the pitch. After the 2-0 win over Ecuador, photos and videos circulated of players singing and embracing fans, raising a simple question: Was it the fans singing to the players, or the players singing to the fans?

The fans interact with great enthusiasm with the team, constantly singing famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a major topic of discussion in both countries. During their talk on the BBC, former English international stars Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney warned that playing at this historic stadium in front of such passionate fans will be England's toughest test in the tournament.

The Mexican stands... the hosts' most prominent weapon against the English (Reuters)

For his part, Javier Hernandez 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's full of Mexicans. Additionally, the pitch is tough due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. 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 mystique around this colossal edifice 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, 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 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.

Alvaro 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 be referring to the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to the Mexico City Stadium itself, for anyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.