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

The two teams meet in an anticipated clash in the Round of 16 of the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, each seeking to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

Germany's Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England national 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 victory 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 rewarding and punishing. This statement alone suffices to show how deeply the stadium's history is ingrained 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 world 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 had lost to the tango dancers (Argentina) in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting that he believes in 'karma,' meaning that what one sows, one reaps later.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating the opponent. They contributed to spreading the 'Mexican wave' globally, an idea that originated in the United States. Their vocal impact and collective rhythm showed their ability to move the entire stadium at will, and they also added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments did not belong to the home team, the relationship between the Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into something like 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 coach Javier Aguirre's team's three matches, with very limited attendance of opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the starting whistle.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in remarks carried by the official website of FIFA: 'The biggest difference, without a doubt, is playing at home. It's our 12th player. We know the entire country is behind us, and that gives us huge 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 the fans, raising a simple question: Were the fans singing for the players, or were the players singing for the fans?

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

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become a key topic of discussion in both countries. Speaking on the BBC, former English international stars Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney warned that playing at this historic stadium in front of this passionate crowd will be the toughest test for England in the tournament.

Mexican stands... the hosts' 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 fatigue it causes. And of course, that makes the task harder.'

Archival footage, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique around this giant coliseum 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, 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.

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.'

Perhaps he meant the Mexican national team, but the statement also applies to the Mexico City Stadium itself; anyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.