The historic Mexico City Stadium says goodbye to this edition of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday evening local time, as it hosts the eagerly awaited match between Mexico and England.

The two teams meet in a highly anticipated round of 16 clash in the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as they both look to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, said: 'It's a fitting moment to reconcile 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 last Wednesday in the round of 32, setting the stage for a match against Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke of Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living being, capable of rewarding and punishing, and this statement alone shows how deeply the stadium's history is embedded in the memory of those who were once just fans, or grew up on stories from previous generations, and now are 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 by setting up the winning goal for his teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

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

Even then, the Mexican fans had perfected the art of intimidating opponents. They helped spread the 'Mexican wave' globally—a concept that originated in the United States—and 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, still heard today.

Aguirre, Mexico's coach, believes playing in Mexico City gives an extra boost (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 into a near-complete unity.

After a four-year renovation that preserved the stadium's essence, Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) hosted 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 putting pressure on opponents even before the kick-off.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in comments reported by FIFA's official website: 'The biggest difference, without a doubt, is playing at home. It's our 12th man. 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, igniting wild celebrations on the pitch. After a 2-0 victory over Ecuador, photos and videos spread of players singing and hugging fans, prompting a simple question: Were the fans singing to the players, or were the players singing to the fans?

Fans engage enthusiastically with the team, constantly singing famous national songs.

The effect of the atmosphere and stadium has become a key talking point 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 this passionate crowd will be England's toughest test in the tournament.

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

Meanwhile, 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's filled with Mexicans. Furthermore, the pitch is tough because of the altitude and the physical exhaustion it causes. And of course, that makes the task even more difficult.'

The video archives, tales of that era, and the events themselves have cast an aura of mystery around this colossal structure that has opened its doors to the world once again. And 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 never lost a World Cup match on home soil, with their last defeat there coming in 2013 against Honduras in the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Álvaro Fidalgo posted 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, as anyone who steps onto this green rectangle is forever captivated by its magic.