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

The two teams meet in a highly anticipated match in the Round of 16 of the World Cup currently being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as they both seek a place in the quarter-finals.

German Thomas Tuchel, the head coach of England, stated: '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 DR Congo on Wednesday in the Round of 32, setting up the date with Mexico in Mexico City in the next round.

Tuchel spoke about the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living being, capable of reward and punishment. This statement alone suffices to show how deeply rooted the history of this stadium is in the memory of those who were once mere fans, or who grew up on stories told by those before them, and who are now writing their own chapters on the world stage.

Before 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 peak 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. Today, the two stories intersect again, with Tuchel admitting that he believes in 'karma' — that what one sows, one reaps later.

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

Mexico coach Aguirre believes that playing in Mexico City provides an extra advantage (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 to become like a complete unity.

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

Aguirre, praising the importance of fan support, said in statements carried by FIFA's official website: 'The biggest difference, without a doubt, is playing at home. It is our 12th player. We know that the entire country stands behind us, and that gives us immense motivation.'

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

The fans interact with the team with great enthusiasm, constantly chanting popular national songs.

The impact of the atmosphere and stadium has become a major topic of discussion in both countries. Speaking on the 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.

Mexican stands: the home side's most prominent weapon against the English (Reuters)

Meanwhile, Javier Hernandez 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's filled with Mexicans. Additionally, the pitch is difficult due to the altitude and the physical fatigue it causes. Of course, that makes the task more difficult.'

The photographic archives, the tales of that era, and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique 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-capacity stadium on their home soil.'

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 the Czech Republic: 'Once you choose it, it never leaves you.'

He might mean 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.