The historic Mexico City Stadium bids farewell to this edition of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday 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 to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of England, said: 'It's an opportune moment to reconcile 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 date 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, and that statement alone shows how deeply rooted the 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 World Cup final, 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' in the quarterfinals in an unforgettable match, and today the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting he believes in 'karma,' meaning that what a person sows will come back to them later.

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

Aguirre, Mexico's coach, believes that playing in Mexico City gives extra strength (AP)

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments did not go the home team's way, the relationship between Mexico's fans and the stadium has developed over the years to become something like a complete unity.

After a 4-year renovation project that preserved the stadium's spirit, the Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) welcomed 80,824 spectators in each of the three matches of coach Javier Aguirre's team, with very limited presence of opposing team fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the opening whistle.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in statements 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 huge motivation.'

Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far, sparking wild celebrations on the pitch. After the 2-0 win over Ecuador, photos and videos circulated of players singing and hugging with fans, prompting a simple question: Were the fans singing for the players, or were the players singing for the fans?

Fans interact enthusiastically 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. During their talk on 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.

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

Javier Hernández, speaking on Fox Sports, said about the importance of playing at the historic Azteca Stadium: 'What that legendary stadium represents, the atmosphere you feel when it's 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 filmed archives, accounts 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, anticipation has reached its peak.

Tuchel revealed, referring to some challenges awaiting his team against Mexico: '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, while its last defeat there was in 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 it chooses you, it never leaves you.'

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