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

The two teams meet in a anticipated clash in the Round of 16 of the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek a ticket to the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, the head coach of the England national team, stated: 'It's a good time to make peace with this stadium. It will reward us.'

Tuchel's comments 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 date with Mexico in the capital Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke about the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment, and this statement alone is enough to show how deeply the stadium's history is rooted in the memory of those who were once merely fans, or grew up on stories told by those before them, and today write their own chapters on the global 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 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 (Argentina) in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match, and today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting that he believes in 'karma', meaning that what you sow comes back to you later.

Even at that time, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. It contributed to the global spread of the 'Mexican wave', an idea that originated in the United States, and its vocal impact and collective rhythm demonstrated its ability to move the entire stadium at will, and also added chants that became part of popular culture and are still present today.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not for the home side, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has developed over the years to become almost 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 in each of coach Javier Aguirre's team's three matches, with very limited presence of opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the kick-off whistle.

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

Mexico has won all its four 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?

Fans interact with great enthusiasm with the team, constantly chanting famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a major focus of discussion in both countries, and 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.

The 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. Additionally, the pitch is tough due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. And of course, that makes the task more difficult.'

Visual archives, accounts of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant edifice that has opened its doors to the world again, and 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, the anticipation has reached its peak.

Tuchel revealed, referring to some challenges awaiting his team against Mexico: '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, 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, as everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.