France took the lineal International belt on July 15, 2018, beating Croatia 4–2 (FIFA World Cup) at home in the World Cup. It is reign 250 in the belt's history and the 9th for the nation.
Croatia had held it since July 1, 2018: 14 days and 2 defenses.
France last held the belt in 2001, 6,318 days before this one; that reign lasted 269 days with 6 defenses.
The reign lasted 124 days and 4 defenses, ending November 16, 2018 against Netherlands.