The historic Mexico City Stadium bids farewell to this edition of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday local time, when it hosts the highly anticipated match between Mexico and England.

The two teams meet in a highly anticipated Round of 16 clash in the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek a ticket to the quarterfinals.

German coach Thomas Tuchel, manager of England, said: '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 on Wednesday in the Round of 32, setting up a meeting with Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke of 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 stadium's history is embedded 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 1986 final, when the late Argentine star Diego Maradona reached the pinnacle of glory with his country after setting up the title-winning goal for teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England had lost to Argentina 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 will later 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 showed their ability to move the entire stadium at will, and they added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not for the home side, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into something like a complete unity.

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

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in remarks published on 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 tremendous motivation.'

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the pitch. 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?

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

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become a major talking point 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 supporters would be England's toughest test in the tournament.

Mexican stands... the home team's strongest weapon against England (Reuters).

Javier Hernandez, speaking on Fox Sports, commented on the importance of playing at the historic Azteca Stadium: 'What that legendary stadium represents, the atmosphere you feel when it's full of Mexicans. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. Of course, that makes the task even harder.'

Archival footage, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique around this giant arena that 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 reached its peak.

Tuchel, hinting at some challenges awaiting his team against Mexico, said: 'We will face an entire country; we will play in front of a full stadium on their turf.'

This comes as Mexico has not lost any 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.

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.'

Perhaps he 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.