In June 2025, FIFA’s decision to hold its football agent licensing exam exclusively online for the first time resulted in widespread chaos, leaving hundreds—if not thousands—of candidates locked out or unable to complete the test. This unprecedented disruption has not only damaged the careers of aspiring agents but also raised serious questions about FIFA’s preparedness, fairness, and accountability in managing a crucial professional gateway. The fallout from this technical failure shines a harsh light on the challenges of digitizing high-stakes professional certification processes and the human cost of organizational mismanagement.
The Stakes of the FIFA Agent Exam
The FIFA football agent exam is a critical and highly competitive test that governs who can legally represent players and clubs in football transfers and negotiations worldwide. In 2024 alone, FIFA received 19,827 licensing applications, with 10,887 candidates sitting the exam on two separate dates. The exam’s difficulty is underscored by a pass rate of just 40.4%, reflecting the complex regulatory environment agents must master.
The financial stakes in the agent profession are enormous. In men’s professional football, club agent service fees totaled USD 709.6 million in 2024, with 2,185 international transfers involving agents—numbers that have steadily increased over recent years. The exam’s comprehensive materials, spanning over 500 pages, cover intricate FIFA regulations, legal frameworks, and ethical standards. Passing this exam is often the culmination of months or years of preparation, including costly courses, private tutoring, and mock exams.
The Transition to an Online Exam and Its Consequences
In 2025, FIFA transitioned the agent exam to a fully digital format, requiring candidates to navigate a complicated technical setup. This included downloading specialized software, using two devices simultaneously, and installing secure browsers to maintain exam integrity. However, this ambitious shift proved disastrous.
Widespread technical failures prevented many candidates from logging in or completing the exam. Some candidates reported missing essential features such as a search bar, while others encountered misleading questions that seemed designed to confuse rather than assess knowledge. The exam’s digital platform was ill-equipped to handle the volume and complexity of the exam process.
“The exam conditions were unfair and chaotic. Many of us had prepared for months, only to be locked out or faced with confusing questions that seemed intentionally misleading,” lamented one frustrated candidate. Another added, “I took unpaid leave and spent hundreds on preparation courses, only to be denied the chance to complete the exam due to technical failures.”
The fallout has been severe. Many candidates who traveled internationally for better internet connectivity found themselves unable to finish the exam, and now face waiting up to a year for the next opportunity. This delay threatens to derail their professional ambitions and financial stability.
Stakeholder Reactions and Industry Perspectives
The candidates’ outrage has been palpable. They have called FIFA’s handling of the exam “shameful” and are demanding an additional exam sitting within the year to rectify the situation. As one candidate put it, “FIFA must take responsibility and offer a second chance this year. Our careers depend on it.”
FIFA, however, has remained largely silent on the issue, offering no public commitment to a re-sit or compensation. Historically, FIFA has maintained strict regulations around agent licensing and has conducted investigations into unlicensed activity, emphasizing the exam’s role as a gatekeeper for professional standards. Yet, the organization’s failure to ensure a smooth digital exam experience has undermined its credibility.
Industry observers have noted that some of the IT issues were predictable, given the scale and novelty of the digital format. Smaller national associations with fewer candidates reportedly experienced fewer problems, while larger groups faced more significant delays and disruptions. This uneven experience has further fueled perceptions of unfairness.
Critics have also raised concerns about the exam’s fairness beyond technical glitches. The presence of allegedly confusing questions and the lack of immediate result notifications exacerbated candidate anxiety and frustration. The exam’s role as a high-stakes professional barrier means that any perceived unfairness can have outsized consequences.
The Human and Financial Cost
The personal toll on candidates has been profound. Many invested significant time, money, and emotional energy into preparing for the exam. The sudden technical failures have not only wasted these investments but also jeopardized their career trajectories.
“I sacrificed work opportunities and paid thousands for tutors and mock exams. Now, I’m stuck waiting a year to try again,”
shared one candidate, highlighting the financial and emotional strain.
The exam’s disruption also impacts the broader football ecosystem. Agents play a pivotal role in facilitating transfers and negotiations, and delays in licensing can create bottlenecks in the market. With agent fees reaching hundreds of millions annually, the stakes extend beyond individual candidates to the sport’s economic health.
Lessons for FIFA and the Future of Agent Licensing
The 2025 FIFA agent exam fiasco serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of rapid digital transformation without adequate testing and contingency planning. While modernizing licensing processes is necessary and inevitable, FIFA’s experience underscores the importance of robust technical infrastructure, user-friendly platforms, and transparent communication.
The organization must address the immediate fallout by committing to a second exam sitting within the year, as demanded by candidates. This would demonstrate accountability and help restore trust. Additionally, FIFA should review the exam content to ensure clarity and fairness, eliminating confusing or misleading questions.
Longer-term, FIFA needs to invest in scalable, reliable digital exam platforms and develop comprehensive support systems for candidates. This includes technical assistance, clear instructions, and real-time issue resolution mechanisms.
Restoring Fairness and Accountability
The FIFA agent exam chaos of 2025 has exposed significant flaws in the organization’s approach to licensing and digital transformation. Hundreds of candidates have been unfairly locked out of a career-defining opportunity, suffering financial and emotional harm. The lack of immediate FIFA response has only deepened frustration.
As one candidate emphatically stated,
“FIFA must do better. Our careers and the integrity of football depend on it.”
To move forward, FIFA must prioritize fairness, transparency, and technical excellence in its licensing processes. Only then can it uphold the standards expected of the world’s governing body for football and protect the careers of those who seek to contribute to the sport professionally.
