diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 966912e2b6..deec3f5b7a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ Ansible Changes By Release
   https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/32866
 * restore host/group_vars merge order
   https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/32963
+* use correct loop var when delegating
+  https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/32986
 
 <a id="2.4.1"></a>
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/vars/manager.py b/lib/ansible/vars/manager.py
index 6cac0cf2c1..2b401937bc 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/vars/manager.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/vars/manager.py
@@ -534,10 +534,11 @@ class VariableManager:
             items = [None]
 
         delegated_host_vars = dict()
+        item_var = getattr(task.loop_control, 'loop_var', 'item')
         for item in items:
             # update the variables with the item value for templating, in case we need it
             if item is not None:
-                vars_copy['item'] = item
+                vars_copy[item_var] = item
 
             templar.set_available_variables(vars_copy)
             delegated_host_name = templar.template(task.delegate_to, fail_on_undefined=False)