The historic Mexico City Stadium will bid 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 spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, said: '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 the capital Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke about Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living entity, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone is enough 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 now write their own chapters on the global 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 his teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England lost to the 'Tango dancers' (Argentina) in the quarterfinals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting he believes in 'karma' — that what you sow, you reap.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. They helped spread 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.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not achieved by the home side, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into a near-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 three matches, with very limited attendance from opposing teams' fans, creating an atmosphere that puts pressure on opponents even before kickoff.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in remarks reported 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 a huge boost.'

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 circulated 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?

Fans interact with great enthusiasm with the national 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 internationals Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney warned that playing at this historic stadium in front of such passionate fans will be England's toughest test in the tournament.

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

For his part, Javier Hernandez 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's packed with Mexicans. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. And of course, that makes the task even harder.'

Archival footage, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant edifice that has once again opened its doors to the world. And ahead of the Round of 16 match, which will be the last game of the tournament on Mexican soil before all competition moves to the United States, anticipation has reached its peak.

Tuchel, pointing to some challenges facing his team against Mexico, revealed: 'We will face an entire country, and we will play in front of a full stadium on their home turf.'

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.

And 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 may have 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.