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 place in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of England, said: "It is an appropriate moment to reconcile 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 in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, setting up a meeting with Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke about "Mexico City Stadium" as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone suffices to show how deeply this stadium's history is rooted in the memory of those who were once mere fans or grew up on stories told by those before them, and who today write 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 had lost to the "Tango dancers" in the quarterfinals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect once again, with Tuchel admitting he believes in "karma"—that what one sows, one reaps.

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

Mexico coach Aguirre believes playing in Mexico City provides an extra advantage (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not in favor of the home side, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years to become almost a complete unity.

After a four-year renovation project that preserved the stadium's spirit, Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) welcomed 80,824 spectators for each of coach Javier Aguirre's team's three matches, 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 remarks 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 its four World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the pitch. After the 2-0 victory over Ecuador, photos and videos circulated 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?

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

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become a major 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 such passionate fans would be England's toughest test in the tournament.

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

Meanwhile, Javier Hernandez told Fox Sports about the importance of playing at the historic Azteca Stadium: "What that legendary stadium represents, 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. And of course, that makes the task more difficult."

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

Tuchel, hinting at 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 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.

Alvaro 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 might be referring to 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.