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 encounter in the round of 16 of the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek a ticket to the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, the head coach of the England national team, said: 'It is a fitting moment to make peace with this stadium. It will reward us.'

Tuchel's remarks 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 the next round in Mexico City.

Tuchel spoke about the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living entity, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone shows how deeply the history of this stadium is ingrained 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 the start of 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 title-winning goal for his teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England lost to the 'Tango dancers' in the quarter-finals 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 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. Their vocal impact and collective rhythm showed their ability to move the entire stadium at will, and 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 added boost (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 renovation project that lasted 4 years and preserved the spirit of the stadium, the Mexico City Stadium (formerly Azteca) welcomed 80,824 spectators in each of the three matches of coach Javier Aguirre's team, with a very limited presence of opposing team fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on the opponents even before the starting whistle.

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 is our 12th player. We know the entire 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 field. After the 2-0 victory over Ecuador, pictures and videos circulated of players singing and embracing with 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 singing famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and the stadium has become an important topic of discussion in both countries. During their talk on the BBC, former England international stars Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney warned that playing at this historic stadium in front of such passionate fans will be England's toughest test in the tournament.

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

For his part, Javier Hernández said on Fox Sports, speaking about the importance of playing at the historic Azteca Stadium: 'What that legendary stadium represents, the atmosphere you feel when it is filled with Mexicans. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical exhaustion it causes. And of course, that makes the task more difficult.'

The visual archives, the stories of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique around this colossal structure that has 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, referring 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 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.'

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