The historic Mexico City Stadium bids farewell to this edition of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday evening local time, as 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 both seek a place in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, 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 last Wednesday in the Round of 32, 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 is enough to show how deeply the history of this stadium is rooted in the memory of those who were once just fans, or who grew up on stories told by those before them, and are now writing 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 World Cup, when the late Argentine star Diego Maradona reached the pinnacle of glory with his national team after setting up the winning goal for his teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England had lost to the 'Tango dancers' (Argentina) in the quarterfinals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting that he believes in 'karma', meaning that what one sows, one reaps later.

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, and their vocal impact and collective rhythm demonstrated their ability to move the entire stadium at will. They also added chants that became part of popular culture and are still present today.

Mexico coach Aguirre believes that playing in Mexico City gives an extra strength (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not in favor of the home team, the relationship between the Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years to become 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 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 kick-off.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in statements reported by the official website of FIFA: 'The biggest difference, without a doubt, is playing at home. It is our 12th player. We know that the whole country is behind us, and that gives us immense motivation.'

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the field. After the 2-0 win over Ecuador, photos and videos spread of players singing and embracing with fans, raising a simple question: Were the fans singing to the players, or were the players singing to the fans?

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

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium became a key topic of discussion in both countries. During an interview on the BBC, former England 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.

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

For his part, Javier Hernández stated 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. And of course, that makes the task even harder.'

The visual archives, stories of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant edifice that opened its doors to the world once again. Before 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 of the challenges awaiting his team against Mexico: 'We are facing 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.

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 may be referring to the Mexican national team, but the phrase also applies to 'Mexico City Stadium' itself, for everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.