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 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, stated: 'It's a fitting moment to make peace with this stadium. It will reward us.'

Tuchel's comments 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 capital 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 who 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 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 had 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,' that is, what one sows comes back later.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. It contributed to spreading the 'Mexican wave' globally, an idea that originated in the United States. Its sonic impact and collective rhythm demonstrated its ability to move the entire stadium at will, and it also added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not for the home team, the relationship between 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) welcomed 80,824 spectators at each of coach Javier Aguirre's team's three matches, 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 statements reported 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 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 the fans, raising a simple question: Were the fans singing for the players, or were the players singing for the fans?

Fans interact with great enthusiasm for the national team, constantly singing famous patriotic songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a major topic of discussion in both countries. Speaking 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 team'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. And of course, that makes the task even harder.'

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 again. 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, 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 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 might mean the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to 'Mexico City Stadium' itself, as everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.