SANTA CLARA, Calif. - After all the hype, controversy and anticipation, the Copa América Centenario is finally here. But with just hours left until Friday's opening kickoff, one of the biggest questions about the tournament hasn't been answered.
Just how big a deal is it, really?
It's not the World Cup. It's not a traditional Copa América, the championship tournament for South American national teams. While that event usually has a few guest teams, this one has six from North and Central America and the Caribbean, and they're on equal footing.
Normally, the Copa America is played every four years.