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 Round of 16 match in the World Cup currently taking place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, stated: 'It's the right 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 of the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living being, capable of rewarding and punishing. This statement alone is enough to show how deeply rooted this stadium's history is in the memory of those who were once just fans, or grew up on stories told by those before them, and who are now writing their own chapters on the world 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 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 admitting he believes in 'karma'—that what one sows, one reaps.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had perfected 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 their ability to move the entire stadium at will. They also added chants that became part of popular culture and are still present today.

Agüirre, Mexico's coach, believes playing in Mexico City gives an extra strength (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not for the home side, the relationship between Mexico's fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into something akin to a unified whole.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the stadium's spirit, the Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) hosted 80,824 spectators for each of the three matches of coach Javier Agüirre's team, with very limited presence of opposing fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the kickoff.

Agüirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in statements carried by FIFA's official website: 'The biggest difference, without a doubt, is playing on our home ground. 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 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 to the players, or were the players singing to 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 a talk on the BBC, former England internationals 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 home side's most prominent weapon against the English (Reuters).

In his comments on Fox Sports, Javier Hernández spoke about the importance of playing at the historic Azteca Stadium: 'What that legendary stadium represents, the atmosphere you feel when it's filled with Mexicans. In addition, the pitch is tough due to the altitude, causing physical fatigue. Of course, that makes the task more difficult.'

Archival footage, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this colossal venue, which has opened its doors to the world once again. Ahead of 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 peaked.

Tuchel, alluding to some 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 as Mexico has never lost a World Cup match on home soil, with their last defeat there coming in 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.'

He might mean 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.