Major League Soccer works unlike every other league in world football. Due to its American heritage, the league is organised in an American manner. There is a salary cap, roster designations, playoffs, an unbalanced schedule, conferences, allocation money and limitations on spending on particular players.
Other leagues share some of these characteristics, but there is none that is so unique in its character. And that is without considering the travel demands that players and teams must deal with when partaking in a league that covers all of North America.
One such element that confuses many European-based or South American-based fans is trades.