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 taking place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, each hoping to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

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

Tuchel's remarks came after England's hard-fought 2-1 victory over DR Congo on Wednesday in the Round of 32, setting up a meeting with Mexico in the next round in Mexico City.

Tuchel spoke about Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living entity, capable of rewarding and punishing, and this statement alone shows how deeply the stadium's history is rooted in the memory of those who were once just fans, or grew up on stories told by predecessors, and are now writing their own chapters on the global 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 country after setting up the title-winning goal for his 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 that he believes in 'karma,' meaning that what one sows, they later reap.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. It helped spread the 'Mexican wave' globally, an idea that originated in the United States. Also, its vocal impact and collective rhythm showed its ability to move the entire stadium at will, and added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

Aguirre, Mexico's coach, believes that playing in Mexico City gives additional strength (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 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 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 entire country is behind us, and that gives us tremendous motivation.'

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking wild celebrations on the pitch. After a 2-0 win over Ecuador, photos and videos spread of players singing and embracing with fans, prompting 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 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 this passionate crowd 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 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's filled with Mexicans. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. Of course, that makes the task even harder.'

The visual archives, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant edifice that opens its doors to the world once again. And 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, the 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 ground.'

This comes at a time when Mexico has not lost any World Cup match on home soil, with its last defeat there dating back to 2013 against Honduras in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying 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.'

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