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 much-anticipated Round of 16 match in the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek a place in the quarterfinals.

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

Tuchel spoke about '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 those before them, and are now writing 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 by setting up the winning goal for teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

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

Even then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. They contributed to the global spread of the 'Mexican wave', 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 have become part of popular culture and are still present today.

Mexico coach Aguirre believes playing in Mexico City provides an extra boost (AFP)

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments did not belong to the home team, the relationship between Mexican 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 attendance from opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the opening whistle.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in comments 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 of its four World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the pitch. After a 2-0 victory over Ecuador, photos 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 with the team with great enthusiasm, constantly singing famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a major topic of discussion in both countries. Speaking 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 would be England's toughest test in the tournament.

Mexican stands... the home side's most prominent weapon against the English (Reuters)

Javier Hernández, speaking on Fox Sports, talked about the importance of playing at the historic Azteca Stadium: 'What that legendary stadium represents, 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. Of course, that makes the task more difficult.'

The video archives, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant monument that has opened its doors to the world again. 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, 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.

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.'

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.