The historic Mexico City Stadium will bid farewell to this edition of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday evening local time, as it hosts the highly 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, with both aiming to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of England, 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 date with Mexico in the next round in Mexico City.

Tuchel spoke about Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment. 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 those before them, and now write their own chapters on the global 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 by setting up the title-winning goal for teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England had lost to the 'Tango dancers' in the quarterfinals in an unforgettable match. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting 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. They contributed to spreading 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 and remain present to this day.

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

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not in favor of the home team, the relationship between Mexico's fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into something akin to 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 the three matches of coach Javier Aguirre's team, with very limited attendance from opposing teams' fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the opening whistle.

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in statements 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 their World Cup matches so far, sparking loud celebrations on the field. After the 2-0 victory over Ecuador, pictures 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 repeating famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a key point of discussion in both countries. During their talk on the BBC, former English international stars 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 team'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. 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 mystery around this giant edifice that has opened its doors to the world once again. And ahead of 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 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.'

Perhaps he meant 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.