The historic Mexico City Stadium bids farewell to this edition of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday evening local time, when 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 ticket to the quarter-finals.

Germany's Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England national team, said: 'It is a suitable 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 for the next round.

Tuchel spoke of the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone is enough to show how deeply the history of this stadium is ingrained in the memory of those who were once just fans, or who 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 edition, 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 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 later reaps.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating the opponent. They helped spread 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 and are still present today.

Aguirre, Mexico's coach, believes that playing in Mexico City gives an extra boost. (AFP)

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not for 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) welcomed 80,824 spectators in each of the three matches of coach Javier Aguirre's team, with very limited presence of opposing team fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the opening whistle.

Aguirre said, praising the importance of fan support, in comments published on FIFA's official website: 'The biggest difference, without a doubt, is playing at home. It is our 12th player. We know the entire country is behind us, and that gives us huge motivation.'

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking noisy celebrations on the field. After the 2-0 victory 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?

The fans interact enthusiastically with the 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 talk 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 would be England's toughest test in the tournament.

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

For his part, Javier Hernández said 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 is filled with Mexicans. In addition, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. Of course, that makes the task more difficult.'

Archived footage, tales from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this colossal edifice that has opened its doors to the world once again. 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, the anticipation has reached its peak.

Tuchel revealed, referring to some 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 at home, while their last defeat there dates 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 the Czech Republic: 'Once you choose it, it never leaves you.'

He probably means 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.