When FIFA announced that the 2026 World Cup would expand from 32 to 48 teams, many football figures and fans were unconvinced.
Critics feared the tournament would become too long, lower in quality and place even greater demands on players.
Others questioned whether three host nations could successfully stage football's biggest event.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter argued that a 48-team World Cup would reduce the competition's quality, while former UEFA president Michel Platini described the expansion as more political than sporting.
Many supporters also debated FIFA's revised tournament format before the first ball was kicked.
However, with France, Spain, England and Argentina reaching the semifinals, Nigeria Info football analysts say the tournament has not only met expectations but exceeded them.
Speaking ahead of the semifinals, Anthony Dimnwaka, popularly known as Devoyce, said the World Cup had overcome a difficult start to become a celebration of football.
"It was a tournament that started on a very controversial note," he said.
"But football is winning.
"And that's the ultimate joy."
He noted that the tournament was labelled the most expensive World Cup in history before it began.
There were also concerns over travel arrangements for delegates and officials, including controversy surrounding a Somali referee who was reportedly unable to enter the United States.
Despite those issues, he said fans have embraced the competition because of its quality, atmosphere and wider representation.
"The expanded edition of the World Cup has truly delivered," he said.
Devoyce pointed to one of FIFA's main reasons for expanding the tournament: giving more countries the opportunity to compete on football's biggest stage.
Debutants such as Uzbekistan, Curaçao and Cape Verde impressed supporters with fearless performances, while Africa was represented by 10 teams.
Nine reached the knockout stage before Egypt and Morocco bowed out in the quarterfinals.
"For a lot of these nations who are very small in population, they have come to the world stage and shown the world that, 'Hey, we play football here and we can really play football,'" he said.
The tournament has also produced attacking football, with 292 goals scored in the first 100 matches.
The four remaining teams—France, Spain, England and Argentina—are also the top four nations in the FIFA rankings, something rarely seen at a World Cup.
Devoyce noted that the star players have lived up to expectations, highlighting Lionel Messi's eight goals, Kylian Mbappé's strong campaign and the performances of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham for England.
He acknowledged there had been difficult moments, including controversial refereeing decisions and the death of South African midfielder Jadon Adams, but insisted the positives had far outweighed the negatives.
Chidozie Okoroji, popularly known as Ovadoze, agreed that the 48-team format had worked.
He recalled FIFA President Gianni Infantino's prediction before the tournament that the expanded World Cup would be a success and said the figures support that claim.
"I remember before the World Cup, Gianni Infantino said it was going to be a huge success," he said.
According to Ovadoze, attendance has already passed 3.6 million spectators, breaking the record set during the 1994 World Cup. He also praised the atmosphere across the three host nations and highlighted Canada's first-ever World Cup victory and the United States reaching the round of 32 as memorable milestones.
Still, he admitted the tournament had not been perfect.
While praising Africa's improved representation, he described the continent's overall knockout performances as disappointing, singling out Senegal as one of the biggest underachievers despite Cape Verde's impressive campaign.
With the semifinals set, our analysts offered differing predictions for the tournament's closing chapter.
Devoyce believes France's balance and depth make Les Bleus favourites to beat Spain.
"I think they're just too good," he said.
"For whatever question that you ask them, they have an answer."
He expects England and Argentina to produce a tense contest that could go to penalties but believes England's desire to end a 60-year wait for major international silverware may give them the edge.
"I think England should have enough desire and hunger to want this more," he said, although he admitted that "in a team that has Lionel Messi, everything is possible."
His predicted final is France against England, with France lifting a third World Cup title.
Ovadoze, however, expects a repeat of the 2022 World Cup final.
He believes France's attacking strength, led by Mbappé and supported by Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué and Michael Olise, will be too much for Spain.
He also backed Argentina to overcome England despite praising Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane's performances.
His prediction is another France versus Argentina showdown.
Although our analysts disagree on who will join France in the final, they share one conclusion: the expanded World Cup has answered many of the doubts that surrounded it before the opening match.
For them, the 2026 tournament has proved that football's biggest competition can grow without losing the excitement, quality and drama that make the World Cup special.
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