Former Mexican national team forward Carlos Vela, who played for Los Angeles FC, has lost his family’s home to the Palisades Fire, his wife Saioa Cañibano announced on social media on Thursday. Earlier that day, Ali Riley, who currently plays for the NWSL’s Angel City FC, made a similar announcement.
“Our beautiful Malibu home burned down yesterday,” Cañibano wrote in Spanish in an Instagram story. “We are still in shock with everything that’s happening.”
The fires, which began earlier this week and are not yet contained, cover tens of thousands of acres and have destroyed more than 5,000 structures as of Thursday. Officials have confirmed five deaths from the fires, but have said they think that number could rise.
Vela, now 35, arrived in Los Angeles in 2018 and played five seasons for LAFC, winning two MLS Cups and a pair of Supporters’ Shield awards as well. Among the most dominant attackers in MLS history, he briefly departed the club in 2024 but returned late in the season. LAFC declined to bring him back in 2025.
“It’s very sad and scary to see everything burning,” continued Cañibano. “To all the messages of concern that are being sent to us, we are safe. Sending much love to all those affected and hopefully they will soon manage to put out the fire.”
Riley’s connection to the Los Angeles area runs even deeper — she grew up in Pacific Palisades, where the still-ongoing wildfires started, and played high school soccer in North Hollywood.
“This was our home,” Riley wrote in a post on X alongside a photo of her now-former neighborhood. “How is this real. It can’t be real.” She later shared more on an Instagram story, telling her followers that “our entire neighborhood is gone. We are all safe. Holding onto that with my whole heart while we figure out what to do next.”
This was our home. How is this real. It can’t be real. #PalisadesFire pic.twitter.com/0ddg3nP1YI
— Ali Riley (@RileyThree) January 9, 2025
Riley, now 37, had an extensive career in Europe before landing in the U.S. with the NWSL’s Orlando Pride in 2020. She has been with LAFC since 2022 and has over 160 caps for her native New Zealand, a side she captained in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
LAFC and Angel City both play at BMO Stadium, which is located near one of the wildfires. On Thursday, Angel City urged its fans to “stay vigilant and follow all safety guidelines” and also thanked the firefighters and first responders who have been struggling to contain the wildfire and treat affected residents.
Please stay vigilant and follow all safety guidance. We are actively sharing resources & ways to help on our IG stories.
To directly aid recovery efforts, please consider supporting @LAFDFoundation at https://t.co/DxBU91ci8L OR text “LAFD” to 24365. Together, we will persevere 🖤 pic.twitter.com/UrKGjezrwP— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) January 9, 2025
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(Photo: Josh Edelson /AFP via Getty Images)
