The historic Mexico City Stadium bids farewell to this edition of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday local time, as it hosts the highly anticipated clash between Mexico and England.

The two teams meet in a eagerly awaited Round of 16 match in the World Cup currently underway in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with both seeking a ticket to the quarterfinals.

German Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, said: "It's the right moment to make peace with this stadium. It will reward us."

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

Tuchel spoke about Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living entity, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone shows how deeply rooted the stadium's history is in the memory of those who were once mere 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 World Cup final, when the late Argentine star Diego Maradona reached the pinnacle of glory with his national team after setting up the title-winning goal for teammate Jorge Burruchaga against West Germany.

In that same edition, England 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'—that what one sows, one reaps.

Even back then, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating opponents. They helped spread 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 added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

Mexico coach Aguirre believes playing in Mexico City provides extra strength (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not in favor of the home team, the relationship between Mexican fans and the stadium has evolved over the years into a complete unity.

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

Aguirre said, praising the importance of fan support, in statements reported on FIFA's official website: "The biggest difference, without a doubt, is playing at home. It's our 12th man. 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 field. After the 2-0 win over Ecuador, photos and videos spread of players singing and hugging 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 a major topic of discussion in both countries. During their talk on the BBC, former England internationals 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 strongest weapon against England (Reuters).

Meanwhile, Javier Hernández told Fox Sports, speaking 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. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. And of course, that makes the task even harder."

Archival footage, stories from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant structure that has opened its doors to the world once again. Ahead of the Round of 16 clash, 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 as Mexico has not lost any World Cup match at home, with its last defeat there 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 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 sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.