| Competition: | 1. Liga |
| Season: | 1988–89 |
| Winners: | Group 1: FC Châtel-Saint-Denis Group 2: FC Laufen Group 3: SC Kriens Group 4: FC Altstätten |
| Promoted: | FC Fribourg FC Zug FC Brüttisellen |
| Relegated: | Group 1: Grand-Lancy FC Central Fribourg FC Stade Lausanne Group 2: FC Köniz FC Rapid Ostermundigen Group 3: FC Altdorf FC Olten Group 4: FC Stäfa FC Frauenfeld |
| Matches: | 4 times 182 plus 14 play-offs and 4 play-outs |
| Prevseason: | 1987–88 |
| Nextseason: | 1989–90 |
The 1988–89 Swiss 1. Liga was the 57th 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 for 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 Aigle[1] | Vaud | Les Glariers | |
| FC Beauregard Fribourg[2] | Fribourg | Guintzet | |
| FC Central Fribourg[3] | Fribourg | Guintzet | |
| FC Châtel-Saint-Denis[4] | Fribourg | Stade du Lussy - Châtel-St-Denis | |
| Concordia/Folgore Lausanne[5] | Vaud | Centre Sportif de la Tuilière | |
| FC Echallens | Vaud | Sportplatz 3 Sapins | |
| FC Fribourg | Fribourg | Stade Universitaire | |
| FC Fully[6] | Valais | Stade de Charnot | |
| Grand-Lancy FC | Geneva | Stade de Marignac | |
| FC Monthey | Valais | Stade Philippe Pottier | |
| FC Raron[7] | Valais | Sportplatz Rhoneglut | |
| FC Stade Lausanne | Vaud | Centre sportif de Vidy | |
| FC Stade Nyonnais | Vaud | Stade de Colovray | |
| Vevey Sports | Vaud | Stade de Copet | |
| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Bern | Bern | Stadion Neufeld | |
| FC Breitenbach[8] | Solothurn | Grien | |
| FC Boudry[9] | Neuchâtel | Stade des Buchilles | |
| SC Burgdorf[10] | canton of Bern | Stadion Neumatt | |
| FC Colombier | Neuchâtel | Stade des Chézards | |
| SR Delémont | Jura | La Blancherie | |
| FC Köniz[11] | Bern | Sportplatz Liebefeld-Hessgut | |
| FC Laufen | Basel-Country | Sportplatz Nau | |
| FC Le Locle[12] | Neuchâtel | Installation sportive - Jeanneret | |
| SV Lyss[13] | Bern | Sportzentrum Grien | |
| FC Moutier[14] | Bern | Stade de Chalière | |
| FC Münsingen | Bern | Sportanlage Sandreutenen | |
| FC Rapid Ostermundigen[15] [16] | Bern | Oberfeld | |
| FC Thun | Bern | Stadion Lachen | |
| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Altdorf[17] | Uri | Gemeindesportplatz | |
| FC Ascona[18] | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Ascona | |
| SC Buochs | Nidwalden | Stadion Seefeld | |
| FC Klus-Balsthal |