Croatia beat New Zealand to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the FINA World Men's Junior Water Polo Championships in Kuwait City ©Eszter Novak/FINA

Croatia, Montenegro, Japan and the United States all registered wins today, completing the quarter-final line-up at the International Swimming Federation World Men's Junior Water Polo Championships in Kuwait City.

The first team to progress were Croatia, who beat New Zealand 15-6 at Al-Nasar Sport Club.

It books them a match-up with Spain, one of the four group winners that went straight through to the last eight and did not play today.

Montenegro edged Hungary 15-14, while Japan narrowly defeated Australia 11-10 and the US overcame Canada 12-6.

Awaiting Montenegro in the quarter-finals, taking place tomorrow, are Group A winners Serbia.

Montenegro just about got the better of Hungary ©Eszter Novak/FINA
Montenegro just about got the better of Hungary ©Eszter Novak/FINA

Japan will face Group C winners Italy and the US will go up against Group D winners and defending champions Greece.

New Zealand, Hungary, Australia and Canada will all contest the ninth-to-12th-place playoffs.

Today's action in the 13th-to-20th-place playoffs saw China beat Uzbekistan 18-10, South Africa defeat Brazil 7-6, Egypt overcome Iran 11-7 and Russia claim a 17-7 victory over hosts Kuwait.

China, South Africa, Egypt and Iran will go on to battle it out for 13th place, while the best Uzbekistan, Brazil, Iran and Kuwait can now hope for is a 17th-place finish.

Competition is scheduled to run through to Friday (December 20).