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 they vie for a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of England, said: 'It's an appropriate moment to make peace with this stadium. It will reward us.'

Tuchel's comments came after England's hard-fought 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday in the round of 32, setting up the encounter with Mexico in 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 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 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 national team 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 acknowledging that he believes in 'karma,' meaning that what one sows, one reaps eventually.

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, 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, still present today.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not for the home side, the relationship between the Mexican fans and the stadium has developed over the years into something like 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 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 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 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 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?

The fans interact with great enthusiasm, constantly singing well-known 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 in this historic stadium in front of such passionate fans would be England's toughest test in the tournament.

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

Meanwhile, Javier Hernandez told Fox Sports, speaking about 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. And of course, that makes the task even harder.'

The recorded archives, the stories of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this colossal structure 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, 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 turf.'

This comes as 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 qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Alvaro 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.'

Perhaps he meant the Mexican national team, but the statement also applies to the Mexico City Stadium itself: everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.