Official Strategy Guide — 2026
How to Pass the FIFA Football Agent Exam
The global pass rate is 18%. This guide covers the complete official path — eligibility, registration, mandatory readiness check, 9 study documents, open-book rules, disqualification triggers, and exam day tactics.
Global pass rate (2025)
18%
Questions
20 MCQ / 60 min
Pass mark
75% (15/20)
Exam frequency
Once per year
Study documents
9 official FIFA docs
Exam languages
EN / FR / DE / ES
Pre-Exam Readiness Check — mandatory by April 14, 2026
All registered candidates must complete the Pre-Exam Readiness Check by April 14, 2026 at 23:59 CET using the exact equipment they plan to use on exam day. Failure to complete it = automatic disqualification — no exceptions.
9-step official preparation guide
Confirm your eligibility (Article 5 FFAR)
Under Article 5 of the FIFA Football Agent Regulations (FFAR), you are ineligible if you: have made false or misleading statements in your application; have been convicted of criminal charges related to organised crime, drug offences, or similar serious matters; have been suspended by a regulatory body; are in bankruptcy; have a conflict of interest from another football function (e.g. active player, coach, club owner); or have performed football agency services without a required licence in the 24 months before applying. No university degree or prior football experience is required. There is no exemption for lawyers, accountants, or former players — everyone sits the same exam. Minimum age: 18.
Register via the FIFA Agent Platform (agents.fifa.com)
Registration is done exclusively at agents.fifa.com — not through your national association, not via FIFA.com. The 2026 application window ran from January 20 to March 6, 2026 (45 days) and is now closed. The exam fee of USD 400 is paid electronically at registration. Since 2025, FIFA holds only one exam edition per year — missing the window means waiting a full year. The 2027 registration window will open around January 2027.
Request language, timeslot, or medical accommodations by March 29
The exam is available in English, French, and Spanish. Any changes to your selected language, exam timeslot, or location must be requested by March 29, 2026 at 23:59 CET. Medical accommodations (extended time, etc.) follow the same deadline. No changes are permitted after this date.
Complete the mandatory Pre-Exam Readiness Check by April 14
All candidates must complete the Pre-Exam Readiness Check — an online mock test that verifies your equipment is compatible with the exam platform. Deadline: April 14, 2026 at 23:59 CET. Critical rule: you must use the exact same laptop, location, smartphone (with FIFA exam app installed), and internet connection that you plan to use on exam day. Failing to complete the readiness check results in automatic disqualification from the exam. Do not treat this as optional.
Study all 9 official FIFA documents — in the right order
FIFA's official position: 'the FIFA Football Agent Exam Study Materials should be considered the only source for candidates' preparation.' All 9 documents are published at footagentexam.com/fifa-materials — open or download for free. The 9 documents are: (1) FFAR — January 2025 edition (highest exam weight); (2) RSTP — January 2025 edition (highest exam weight); (3) FIFA Statutes — May 2024; (4) FIFA Disciplinary Code — September 2025; (5) FIFA Code of Ethics; (6) FIFA Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal — January 2025; (7) FIFA Clearing House Regulations — January 2025; (8) FIFA Guardians: Child Safeguarding Toolkit; (9) Relevant FIFA Circulars. Roughly 60–70% of questions (12–14 out of 20) relate to FFAR or RSTP. Start with these two and ensure you can navigate them fluently.
Focus your FFAR preparation on Articles 12–16
The FFAR is the single most tested document. Articles to master: Article 2 (definitions — Connected Football Agent); Article 12–13 (representation obligations, disclosure); Article 14 (dual representation — permitted with written consent); Article 15 (service fee caps — 3% below threshold, 5% player above threshold, 6% club-only); Article 16 (representation agreement — max 2 years with player/coach, no maximum with clubs, parent/guardian must countersign for minors). Also know the suspended provisions from FIFA Circular 1873.
Master RSTP calculations — training compensation and solidarity
The RSTP is the most complex document. Priority areas: Article 17 (protected period — 3 years generally, 2 years for players under 28 at signing); Article 18 (minimum age 16 for first professional contract); Article 19 (international transfer of minors — prohibited under 18, with 3 exceptions); Article 20 + Annexe 4 (training compensation — ages 12–21, category-based costs); Article 21 + Annexe 5 (solidarity mechanism — 5% of transfer fee, 0.25%/year ages 12–15, 0.50%/year ages 16–23); Articles 18bis/18ter (no third-party ownership or influence). Practice calculations on paper until you can compute solidarity distributions in under 2 minutes.
Prepare your exam environment carefully
The exam is fully remote with live proctoring. You must supply: (1) A laptop or desktop with a working webcam and microphone; (2) A smartphone with the FIFA exam app installed — used as a secondary camera monitoring the room; (3) A stable internet connection — your responsibility; (4) A private, quiet room — cafes, libraries, and public spaces are NOT permitted. No breaks of any kind are permitted during the 60-minute exam, including restroom breaks. Prepare water and ensure you are comfortable before starting.
Exam day — open-book strategy
You may access only the official FIFA digital study materials during the exam. No printed documents, no handwritten notes, no external websites — these cause immediate disqualification. Each candidate receives a unique set of questions. Strategy: (1) Read each question twice before opening any document — you may know the answer; (2) Go directly to pre-bookmarked articles for uncertain answers; (3) Never spend more than 2.5 minutes on one question — skip and return; (4) Focus on exact numbers: percentages (3%/5%/6%), years (2 or 3 protected period), ages (12/16/21/23), and durations (2-year max agreement). Wrong answers carry no penalty — never leave a blank.
Open-book rules — what is allowed and what is not
Permitted during the exam
- ✓Official FIFA study materials — digital format only
- ✓Glasses
- ✓A calculator
Prohibited — causes immediate disqualification
- ✕Printed documents or handwritten notes
- ✕External websites or search engines
- ✕Mobile phones, tablets, headphones (other than FIFA app)
- ✕Second screen
- ✕Another person in the room
- ✕Leaving camera view
- ✕Breaks (including restroom breaks)
- ✕Communicating with anyone
Disqualification carries no right of appeal. Disqualified candidates cannot sit the next available exam session.
All 9 official study documents — and exam weight
Open / download all →FFAR
HighestFIFA Football Agent Regulations — Jan 2025
Arts. 2, 12–16; service fees; representation agreements; CFA
RSTP
HighestRegulations on Status & Transfer of Players — Jan 2025
Arts. 17–21, Annexes 4–5; training comp.; solidarity; minors
FIFA Statutes
HighFIFA Statutes — May 2024
Governance; Congress; Council; Football Tribunal; CAS
Disciplinary Code
HighFIFA Disciplinary Code — Sep 2025
Sanctions; discrimination 3-step; judicial bodies; appeal
Code of Ethics
MediumFIFA Code of Ethics — Latest
Agent obligations; conflicts of interest; bribery
Procedural Rules
MediumFIFA Procedural Rules — Football Tribunal — Jan 2025
DRC, Players' Status, Agents Chamber procedures
Clearing House
MediumFIFA Clearing House Regulations — Jan 2025
EPP process; AML; payment workflow; 3-step process
FIFA Guardians
MediumChild Safeguarding Toolkit — Latest
Minors protection; safeguarding obligations for agents
FIFA Circulars
MediumRelevant FIFA Circulars — Ongoing
Circular 1873 (suspended FFAR provisions); amendments
Frequently asked questions
How difficult is the FIFA Football Agent Exam?
The global pass rate dropped from 52% in June 2023 to 18% in June 2025. The exam is not difficult because questions are ambiguous — it is difficult because the breadth is large (9 documents, including the dense RSTP and FFAR), the time per question is short (3 minutes), and many candidates underestimate the precision required (exact percentages, durations, article numbers). Candidates who practise with timed, regulation-referenced mock exams consistently outperform those who only read the documents.
How long should I study for the FIFA Football Agent Exam?
Candidates with no legal or football regulation background typically need 80–120 hours of focused study. Those with prior FIFA regulation knowledge (sports lawyers, club secretaries) may need 40–60 hours. The most important factor is active practice — candidates who complete 10+ timed mock exams with open-book lookups consistently outperform those who read passively.
What happens if I fail the FIFA Football Agent Exam?
Since FIFA holds only one exam edition per year (since 2025), failing means waiting a full year for the next window. There is no limit on retake attempts. Candidates disqualified for rule breaches cannot sit the next session. Use the year to focus specifically on RSTP calculations (training compensation, solidarity) and FFAR service fee rules — the two most commonly failed areas.
Can I use printed notes or external websites during the exam?
No. Printed documents, handwritten notes, and external websites are strictly prohibited and will cause immediate disqualification. Only the official FIFA study materials in digital format are permitted. Your smartphone must run the FIFA exam app only — not open for browsing.
What causes automatic disqualification?
Automatic disqualification occurs for: communicating with others during the exam; accessing external websites or unauthorized materials; using a phone, tablet, or headphones for anything other than the FIFA exam app; leaving the camera view; having another person in the room; using a second screen; or any cheating detected by the remote proctoring system. Disqualification carries no right of appeal, and disqualified candidates cannot sit the next available exam session.
What are the CPD requirements after becoming a licensed agent?
Licensed agents must complete a minimum of 20 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) credits per calendar year (October 1 – September 30). CPD course assessments require an 80% pass mark. Failure to complete CPD results in automatic provisional suspension; if not remedied within 60 days, the licence is automatically withdrawn. A mandatory CPD course on minors must be completed and renewed every 3 years.
Continue your preparation
Exam Dates 2026 — Full Schedule
Timeline, deadlines, fees, languages, and readiness check details
FFAR Study Guide
Service fees, agreements, connected agents — 5 free practice questions
RSTP Study Guide
Training comp., solidarity calculations, contractual stability
Free Mock Exams
Timed 5-question practice sets with full answer explanations
Practice the way the real exam works
Our platform mirrors the official exam: 20 timed questions, open-book format, and AI explanations that reference the exact FFAR or RSTP article for every answer.