| Competition: | 1. Liga |
| Season: | 1985–86 |
| Winners: | Overall champions FC Olten Group 1: ES FC Malley Group 2: FC Bern Group 3: SC Kriens Group 4: FC Einsiedeln |
| Promoted: | FC Olten ES FC Malley SC Kriens |
| Relegated: | Group 1: FC Stade Payerne FC Stade Nyonnais Group 2: FC Concordia Basel SC Bümpliz 78 Group 3: SC Reiden FC Tresa/Monteggio Group 4: FC Frauenfeld FC Balzers SC Brühl |
| Matches: | 4 times 182 plus 13 play-offs and 4 play-outs |
| Prevseason: | 1984–85 |
| Nextseason: | 1986–87 |
The 1985–86 Swiss 1. Liga was the 54th season of this league 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 amateur football.
There were 56 clubs in the 1. Liga, divided into four regional groups, each with 14 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 four group winners and the four runners-up then contested a play-off round to decide the three promotion slots. The two last placed teams in each group were directly relegated to the 2. Liga (fourth tier). The four third-last placed teams would compete a play-out against the ninth relegation spot.
| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Echallens | Vaud | Sportplatz 3 Sapins | ||
| FC Fribourg | Fribourg | Stade Universitaire | ||
| Grand-Lancy FC | Geneva | Stade de Marignac | ||
| FC Leytron[1] | Valais | Stade Saint-Martin | ||
| ES FC Malley | Vaud | Centre Sportif de la Tuilière | ||
| FC Monthey | Valais | Stade Philippe Pottier | ||
| FC Montreux-Sports | Vaud | Stade de Chailly | ||
| FC Saint-Jean GE | Geneva | Centre sportif de Varembé[2] | ||
| FC Savièse[3] | Valais | Stade St-Germain | ||
| FC Stade Lausanne | Vaud | Centre sportif de Vidy | ||
| FC Stade Nyonnais | Vaud | Stade de Colovray | ||
| FC Stade Payerne[4] | Vaud | Stade Municipal | ||
| FC Vernier[5] | Geneva | Stade municipal de Vernier | ||
| Yverdon-Sport FC | Vaud | Stade Municipal | ||
| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Bern | Bern | Stadion Neufeld | |
| SC Burgdorf[6] | canton of Bern | Stadion Neumatt | |
| FC Concordia Basel | Basel-City | Stadion Rankhof | |
| FC Breitenbach[7] | Solothurn | Grien | |
| SC Bümpliz 78 | Bern | Bodenweid | |
| FC Colombier | Neuchâtel | Stade des Chézards | |
| SR Delémont | Jura | La Blancherie | |
| FC Köniz[8] | Bern | Sportplatz Liebefeld-Hessgut | |
| FC Langenthal[9] | Rankmatte | ||
| FC Lengnau[10] | Bern | Moos Lengnau BE | |
| FC Nordstern Basel | Basel-Stadt | Rankhof | |
| BSC Old Boys | Basel-Stadt | Stadion Schützenmatte | |
| FC Solothurn | Solothurn | Stadion FC Solothurn | |
| FC Thun | Bern | Stadion Lachen | |
The decider was played on 27 May at La Blancherie in Delémont. FC Langenthal win and continue in play-outs. FC Concordia Basel are relegated directly to 2. Liga Interregional.
| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Altdorf[11] | Uri | Gemeindesportplatz | |
| FC Ascona[12] | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Ascona | |
| SC Buochs | Nidwalden | Stadion Seefeld | |
| FC Emmenbrücke | Lucerne | Stadion Gersag | |
| FC Ibach | Schwyz | Gerbihof | |
| FC Klus-Balsthal |