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 the national teams of Mexico and England.

The two teams meet in a highly anticipated encounter in the Round of 16 of the World Cup currently underway in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as both seek a ticket to the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, head coach of the England national team, said: "It is an appropriate moment to reconcile 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 meeting with Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke about the "Mexico City Stadium" as if it were a living entity, capable of reward and punishment, and this statement alone is enough to show how deeply the history of this stadium is rooted 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 edition, 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 had lost to the "Tango dancers" in the quarter-finals in an unforgettable match, and today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel acknowledging that he believes in "karma," meaning what one sows, one reaps.

Even at that time, the Mexican crowd had mastered the art of intimidating the opponent. 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, and they also added chants that became part of popular culture, still present today.

Mexico coach Aguirre believes that playing in Mexico City gives an extra strength (AFP).

Although many of the stadium's greatest moments were not for the home side, the relationship between the 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, 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 fans, creating an atmosphere and pressure on opponents even before the opening whistle.

Aguirre said, praising the importance of fan support, in remarks published on the official website of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA): "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 its four World Cup matches so far, sparking raucous celebrations on the field. After the 2-0 victory over Ecuador, photos and videos spread 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?

The fans interact enthusiastically with the national team, constantly chanting famous national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a key topic of discussion in both countries, and during their talk on the British Broadcasting Corporation (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 side'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, and 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."

Archived footage, narratives from that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystery around this giant edifice that has opened its doors to the world again, and 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, pointing to some challenges awaiting his team against Mexico: "We will face an entire country, and we will play in front of a full-capacity stadium on their home turf."

This comes at a time when Mexico has not lost any World Cup match on home soil, while their last defeat there dates 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 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, as everyone who sets foot on this green rectangle falls under its spell forever.