AFC Women's Asian Cup
Handed the reins of the Uzbekistan women’s national team, she was tasked to lead them to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ – a stage they have not reached since 2003.
Between 1995 and 2003, the Central Asians took part in five consecutive tournaments but have not appeared at the Continental showpiece since a qualification process was introduced from the 2006 edition as they endured five failed campaigns.
Between 1995 and 2003, the Central Asians took part in five consecutive tournaments but have not appeared at the Continental showpiece since a qualification process was introduced from the 2006 edition as they endured five failed campaigns.
That absence ended in the most dramatic of circumstances on July 5, 2025 in Tashkent’s Milly Stadium when Kulbyte’s charges defeated Nepal in a penalty shootout—after both teams finished level on points, goal difference and goals scored—to seal a historic qualification on merit to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
It was a remarkable achievement as well as early vindication for Kulbyte, who left her native Lithuania to work in Asia for the first time after around half a year of negotiations with the Uzbekistan Football Association.
“It was very intense but rewarding as we qualified for the Women’s Asian Cup”, Kulbyte recently told the-AFC.com. “I have enjoyed every day (since coming) here with my (team of) dedicated players.
“When the opportunity came (for me) to take part in something transformative, I wanted to be part of it, part of a new era for Uzbekistan women’s football. The Uzbekistan Football Association came with a clear vision and I bought it.”
It was a remarkable achievement as well as early vindication for Kulbyte, who left her native Lithuania to work in Asia for the first time after around half a year of negotiations with the Uzbekistan Football Association.
“It was very intense but rewarding as we qualified for the Women’s Asian Cup”, Kulbyte recently told the-AFC.com. “I have enjoyed every day (since coming) here with my (team of) dedicated players.
“When the opportunity came (for me) to take part in something transformative, I wanted to be part of it, part of a new era for Uzbekistan women’s football. The Uzbekistan Football Association came with a clear vision and I bought it.”
Kulbyte believes that qualification will leave a long-lasting impact and is determined to play her part in nurturing future stars.
“It’s a huge achievement for us,” she said. “And beyond the result, it’s also about giving a dream to young girls in Uzbekistan, to dream that they can be the next generation. It’s not only about the team winning, not only the players winning — it’s a win for the whole football community and the whole country.
“We have finished preparing our long-term plans on how we can improve Uzbek women’s football, steps on what we want to improve, such as grassroots level, (and setting) minimum standards for the national team. I do believe we have a great future and great potential in Uzbekistan.”
“It’s a huge achievement for us,” she said. “And beyond the result, it’s also about giving a dream to young girls in Uzbekistan, to dream that they can be the next generation. It’s not only about the team winning, not only the players winning — it’s a win for the whole football community and the whole country.
“We have finished preparing our long-term plans on how we can improve Uzbek women’s football, steps on what we want to improve, such as grassroots level, (and setting) minimum standards for the national team. I do believe we have a great future and great potential in Uzbekistan.”
When kick-off against DPR Korea in their Group B opener comes around on March 3 at the Western Sydney Stadium, Kulbyte, who turned 33 in January, will in all likelihood be the youngest head coach at the 21st edition of the crown jewel.
Born in Jovana, she chose to end her playing career at 24 in favour of coaching. “I am a person who seeks success, seeks perfection, and I believed coaching would lead me there,” she explained. “I think age shouldn’t be the main number (factor) that defines you… or gender as well. At the end of the day, it’s (all about) what you can do in your job, on the pitch, and whether the team can follow your instructions.”
Born in Jovana, she chose to end her playing career at 24 in favour of coaching. “I am a person who seeks success, seeks perfection, and I believed coaching would lead me there,” she explained. “I think age shouldn’t be the main number (factor) that defines you… or gender as well. At the end of the day, it’s (all about) what you can do in your job, on the pitch, and whether the team can follow your instructions.”
Starting with spells at various academies, Kulbyte worked her way up to the assistant coaching role of both the Lithuania Under-15 and Under-17 women’s national teams. She then spent almost three years leading top flight women’s side FK Vilnius before returning to the national team set-up in 2021, this time as head coach of the U15s. A year later, Kulbyte added assistant coaching duties of the senior team to her plate, and was also heading the U17s before her departure to Asia.
Fluent in English and Russian, Kulbyte became the first Lithuanian woman to attain the UEFA Pro Licence in 2023 and is enjoying her time so far in Uzbekistan.
“It’s a great experience to be honest,” she said. “The people are great, very warm and welcoming; I adapted very quickly, and I felt part of them, and it also made the job on the field easier when you feel part of the country.
“It’s not the goal to be (a role model), but if I do my job well, I hope I can inspire some of them to follow this path, (be it) the coaching path or playing path. I think it’s very important (that) we, especially as female coaches, are raising the flag of women’s football strongly, and… opening doors for the next generation.”
Fluent in English and Russian, Kulbyte became the first Lithuanian woman to attain the UEFA Pro Licence in 2023 and is enjoying her time so far in Uzbekistan.
“It’s a great experience to be honest,” she said. “The people are great, very warm and welcoming; I adapted very quickly, and I felt part of them, and it also made the job on the field easier when you feel part of the country.
“It’s not the goal to be (a role model), but if I do my job well, I hope I can inspire some of them to follow this path, (be it) the coaching path or playing path. I think it’s very important (that) we, especially as female coaches, are raising the flag of women’s football strongly, and… opening doors for the next generation.”
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Unbeaten in their last nine games, Kulbyte is relishing the prospect of tussling with reigning champions China PR, heavyweights DPR Korea and fast-improving debutants Bangladesh when Uzbekistan return to Asia’s pinnacle platform.
“Preparation is going very well, we are holding training camps and building a competitive squad,” she said. “The goal would be to take each game one at a time; of course, it would be great to qualify from the group stage. But… it’s our first time (being involved) in 23 years. We are here to grow and to keep it consistent, because we want to participate in the Asian Cup every cycle.
“We will be ready… we have our plans for what (we want) to do until March, and I am excited and looking forward to coming to Australia.”
“Preparation is going very well, we are holding training camps and building a competitive squad,” she said. “The goal would be to take each game one at a time; of course, it would be great to qualify from the group stage. But… it’s our first time (being involved) in 23 years. We are here to grow and to keep it consistent, because we want to participate in the Asian Cup every cycle.
“We will be ready… we have our plans for what (we want) to do until March, and I am excited and looking forward to coming to Australia.”
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