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

The two teams meet in an anticipated match 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 quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England national team, stated: 'It's 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 DR Congo last Wednesday in the Round of 32, setting up a date with Mexico in the next round in Mexico City.

Tuchel spoke of the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living being, 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 mere fans, or grew up on stories told by predecessors, and who now write their own chapters on the world 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 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 quarter-finals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel acknowledging that he believes in 'karma'—that is, what one sows, one reaps later.

Even then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. It contributed to spreading the 'Mexican wave' globally—a concept that originated in the United States—and its vocal impact and collective rhythm demonstrated its ability to move the entire stadium at will. It also added chants that became part of popular culture and remain present today.

Mexico coach Aguirre believes that playing in Mexico City provides additional strength (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments did not favor the home team, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years to become akin to a complete unity.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the stadium's spirit, the Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) hosted 80,824 spectators in each of the three matches of coach Javier Aguirre's team, with very limited attendance from opposing teams' 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 at home. It is our 12th player. We know the entire country is behind us, and that gives us tremendous motivation.'

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

Fans interact enthusiastically with the team, constantly singing 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 internationals 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 team's 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 filled with Mexicans. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. Of course, that makes the task even harder.'

Archival footage, narratives from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique around this giant edifice that opens its doors to the world once again. And ahead of the Round of 16 clash, 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 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 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 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: everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.