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 match in the Round of 16 of 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 the England national team, 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 meeting with Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke about the 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 who grew up on stories told by those before them, and who today are writing their own chapters on the global 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 team of the 'Tango dancers' (Argentina) 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 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 demonstrated their ability to move the entire stadium at will, and they added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

Aguirre, Mexico's coach, believes that playing in Mexico City provides 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 to become 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 presence of opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on rivals even before the opening 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's our 12th player. We know the whole 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 field. 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 to the players, or were the players singing to the fans?

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

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become an important topic of discussion in both countries. During their interview 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 England's toughest test in the tournament.

Mexican stands... The hosts' most prominent weapon against the English (Reuters)

On 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.'

The visual archives, the stories of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique around this giant edifice that has opened its doors to the world once 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, the anticipation has reached its peak.

Tuchel revealed, referring to some of the 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 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 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 be referring to the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to the Mexico City Stadium itself; everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.