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

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

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of England, said: '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 the next round in Mexico City.

Tuchel spoke about the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone is enough 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 who 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 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 had lost to Argentina in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match. Today, the stories intersect once again, with Tuchel admitting he believes in 'karma'—that what one sows, one reaps.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating the opponent. They helped spread 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, still present today.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not in favor of the home team, the relationship between the Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into 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 for each of coach Javier Aguirre's team's three matches, with very limited presence of opposing team fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the opening whistle.

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

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the pitch. After the 2-0 victory over Ecuador, photos and videos spread of players singing and embracing with fans, raising a simple question: Were the fans singing for the players, or were the players singing for the fans?

The fans interact enthusiastically with the team, constantly chanting famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become a key topic of discussion 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 passionate fans will be England's toughest test in the tournament.

Mexican stands... the home side's main weapon against England (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, 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. Of course, that makes the task more difficult.'

Film archives, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique around this giant edifice 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, anticipation has reached its peak.

Tuchel, alluding to some of the challenges awaiting his team against Mexico, said: 'We will face an entire country, and we will play in front of a full stadium on their home turf.'

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 stage of CONCACAF qualifying 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 probably meant 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.