| Competition: | 1. Liga |
| Season: | 1961–62 |
| Winners: | 1. Liga champions: FC Moutier Group West: Cantonal Neuchâtel Group Cenral: FC Moutier Group South and East: FC Baden |
| Promoted: | FC Moutier Cantonal Neuchâtel |
| Relegated: | Group West: FC Bözingen 34 Group Central: FC Breitenbach Group South and East: SV Höngg |
| Matches: | 3 times 144 plus 3 play-offs |
| Prevseason: | 1960–61 |
| Nextseason: | 1962–63 |
The 1961–62 1. Liga season was the 30th season of the 1. Liga since its creation in 1931. At this time, the 1. Liga was the third-tier of the Swiss football league system and it was the highest level of total amateur football. At this time the clubs in the two higher divisions in Switzerland were beginning to employ professional or moreover semi-professional players.
There were 36 teams competing in the 1. Liga 1961–62 season. They were divided into three regional groups, each group with 12 teams. Within each group, the teams would play a double round-robin to decide their league position. Two points were awarded for a win. The three group winners then contested a play-off round to decide the two promotion slots. The last placed team in each group were relegated to the 2. Liga (fourth tier). The groups were to be stocked up, each with one additional club for the next season, therefore these three relegated teams would be replaced by six promoted teams from the 2. Liga.
| Club | Based in | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Bözingen 34[1] | Biel/Bienne | Längfeld | ||
| FC Cantonal Neuchâtel | Neuchâtel | Stade de la Maladière | ||
| Étoile Carouge FC | Carouge | Stade de la Fontenette | ||
| FC Le Locle[2] | Le Locle | Installation sportive - Jeanneret | ||
| FC Lengnau[3] | Lengnau | Moos Lengnau BE | ||
| ES FC Malley | Malley | Centre sportif de la Tuilière | ||
| FC Monthey | Monthey | Stade Philippe Pottier | ||
| FC Forward Morges[4] | Morges | Parc des Sports | ||
| FC Raron[5] | Raron | Sportplatz Rhoneglut | ||
| FC Sierre[6] | Sierre | Complexe Ecossia | ||
| FC Versoix[7] | Versoix | Centre sportif de la Bécassière | ||
| FC Xamax | Neuchâtel | Stade de la Maladière | ||
Xamax had 8 points deducted because they had been accused by former coach Vidjak of paying illegal bonuses to the players.
| Club | Based in | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Alle | Alle | Centre Sportif Régional | ||
| FC Breitenbach[8] | Breitenbach | Grien | ||
| SC Burgdorf[9] | Burgdorf | Stadion Neumatt | ||
| FC Concordia Basel | Basel | Stadion Rankhof | ||
| SR Delémont | Delémont | La Blancherie | ||
| FC Emmenbrücke | Emmen | Stadion Gersag | ||
| FC Langenthal[10] | Langenthal | Rankmatte | ||
| FC Moutier[11] | Moutier | Stade de Chalière | ||
| FC Nordstern Basel | Basel | Rankhof | ||
| BSC Old Boys | Basel | Stadion Schützenmatte | ||
| FC Solothurn | Solothurn | Stadion FC Solothurn | ||
| FC Wohlen | Wohlen | [12] | ||
| Club | Based in | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Baden | Baden | Esp Stadium | ||
| FC Blue Stars Zürich[13] | Zürich | Hardhof | ||
| FC Dietikon[14] | Dietikon | Fussballplatz Dornau | ||
| SV Höngg | Zürich | Hönggerberg | ||
| FC Locarno | Locarno | |||
| FC Oerlikon/Polizei ZH[15] | Oerlikon (Zürich) | Sportanlage Neudorf | ||
| FC Rapid Lugano[16] | Lugano | Cornaredo Stadium | ||
| FC Red Star Zürich | Zürich | Allmend Brunau | ||
| FC Solduno[17] | Locarno | Campo Morettina / Stadio del Lido | / | |
| FC St. Gallen | St. Gallen | Espenmoos | ||
| FC Vaduz | Vaduz | Liechtenstein | Rheinpark Stadion | |
| FC Wettingen | Wettingen | Stadion Altenburg | ||
The three group winners played single a round-robin for the two promotion slots and for the championship.
FC Moutier were declaired 1. Liga champions. The champions and the runners-up Cantonal Neuchâtel were promoted to 1962–63 Nationalliga B.