The historic Mexico City Stadium says goodbye 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 spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England national team, stated: 'It is 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 being, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone suffices to show how deeply the stadium's history is rooted in the memories 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 world stage.

Before this edition, the last World Cup match hosted by this legendary stadium was the final of the 1986 tournament, when the late Argentine star Diego Maradona reached the pinnacle of glory with his national team after setting up the 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 what goes around comes around.

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—and its vocal impact and collective rhythm demonstrated its ability to move the entire stadium at will. It also added chants that became part of popular culture and remain present today.

Aguirre, Mexico's coach, believes that playing in Mexico City provides additional strength (AFP).

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

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in comments reported on FIFA's official website: 'The biggest difference, without a doubt, is playing at home. It's 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 raucous celebrations on the pitch. After a 2-0 win over Ecuador, images 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?

The 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. Speaking 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.

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

Javier Hernández, speaking on Fox Sports, discussed 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 resulting physical fatigue. And of course, that makes the task even harder.'

Video archives, narratives from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique around this giant edifice that has opened its doors to the world again. And ahead of the Round of 16 clash, 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, 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 the Czech Republic: 'Once you choose it, it never leaves you.'

He probably meant 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.