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 a highly anticipated Round of 16 match of the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as they seek a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England team, stated: 'It is an appropriate moment to make peace with this stadium. It will reward us.'

Tuchel's remarks came after England's hard-fought 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo last Wednesday in the Round of 32, setting up a meeting with Mexico in the capital Mexico City in the next round.

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 just fans, or grew up on stories told by those before them, and now write their own chapters on the global stage.

Before this edition, the last World Cup match hosted by this legendary stadium was the 1986 World Cup final, 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 lost to the 'Tango dancers' in the quarterfinals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting that he believes in 'karma,' meaning that what one sows, they will later reap.

Even then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. 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 also added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

Aguirre, Mexico's coach, believes that playing in Mexico City gives extra strength (AFP)

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

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

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking lively celebrations on the field. After a 2-0 win over Ecuador, images and videos spread of players singing and hugging fans, raising a simple question: Were the fans singing to the players, or were the players singing to the fans?

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

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium became a key topic of discussion in both countries. During their talk on the BBC, former England international stars Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney warned that playing at this historic stadium in front of this passionate crowd would be England's toughest test in the tournament.

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

For his part, Javier Hernández 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. 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 visual archives, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant edifice that opened its doors to the world once 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, 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 at a time when Mexico has not lost any World Cup match on home soil, while their last defeat there dates 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.'

Perhaps he means the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to the 'Mexico City Stadium' itself, for everyone who steps foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.