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

The two teams meet in a keenly awaited round of 16 encounter in the ongoing tournament held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, each seeking a ticket to the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, 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 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 of '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 mere fans or grew up on stories told by predecessors, 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 lost to the 'Tango dancers' in the quarterfinals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel acknowledging that he believes in 'karma' – that what one sows, one reaps.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. They helped spread the 'Mexican wave' globally, a concept that originated in the United States, and their vocal impact and collective rhythm showed the ability to move the entire stadium at will. They also added chants that became part of popular culture and are still present today.

Mexico coach Aguirre believes that playing in Mexico City provides an extra boost (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not in favor of the home side, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into something akin to 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 team's three matches, with very limited presence of opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the kickoff whistle.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in remarks published on FIFA's official website: 'The biggest difference, without a doubt, is playing at home. They are our 12th player. We know the whole country is 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 pitch. After the 2-0 win over Ecuador, photos and videos spread of players singing and hugging fans, raising a simple question: Were the fans singing for the players, or were the players singing for the fans?

Fans interact enthusiastically with the team, constantly singing famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a major topic of discussion in both countries. During an interview on the BBC, former England international stars 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.

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 difficult due to the altitude and the physical exhaustion it causes. And of course, that makes the task even harder.'

Archived footage, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique around this gigantic edifice that has opened its doors to the world again. Before 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 challenges awaiting his team against Mexico, revealed: 'We will face an entire country, and we will play in front of a full-capacity 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.

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