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	Bern	Längfeld	1,000
FC Cantonal Neuchâtel	Neuchâtel	Neuchâtel	Stade de la Maladière	25,500
Étoile Carouge FC	Carouge	Geneva	Stade de la Fontenette	3,690
FC Le Locle[2]	Le Locle	Neuchâtel	Installation sportive - Jeanneret	3,142
FC Lengnau[3]	Lengnau	Bern	Moos Lengnau BE	3,900
ES FC Malley	Malley	Vaud	Centre sportif de la Tuilière	1,500
FC Monthey	Monthey	Valais	Stade Philippe Pottier	1,800
FC Forward Morges[4]	Morges	Vaud	Parc des Sports	600
FC Raron[5]	Raron	Valais	Sportplatz Rhoneglut	1,000
FC Sierre[6]	Sierre	Valais	Complexe Ecossia	2,000
FC Versoix[7]	Versoix	Geneva	Centre sportif de la Bécassière	1,000
FC Xamax	Neuchâtel	Neuchâtel	Stade de la Maladière	25,500

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	Jura	Centre Sportif Régional	2,000
FC Breitenbach[9]	Breitenbach	Solothurn	Grien	2,000
SC Burgdorf[10]	Burgdorf	Bern	Stadion Neumatt	3,850
FC Concordia Basel	Basel	Basel-Stadt	Stadion Rankhof	7,000
SR Delémont	Delémont	Jura	La Blancherie	5,263
FC Emmenbrücke	Emmen	Lucerne	Stadion Gersag	8,700
FC Langenthal[11]	Langenthal	Bern	Rankmatte	2,000
FC Moutier[12]	Moutier	Bern	Stade de Chalière	5,000
FC Nordstern Basel	Basel	Basel-Stadt	Rankhof	7,600
BSC Old Boys	Basel	Basel-Stadt	Stadion Schützenmatte	8,000
FC Solothurn	Solothurn	Solothurn	Stadion FC Solothurn	6,750
FC Wohlen	Wohlen	Aargau	Stadion Niedermatten	3,734[13]

Club	Based in	Canton	Stadium	Capacity
FC Baden	Baden	Aargau	Esp Stadium	7,000
FC Blue Stars Zürich[14]	Zürich	Zürich	Hardhof	1,000
FC Dietikon[15]	Dietikon	Zürich	Fussballplatz Dornau	1,000
SV Höngg	Zürich	Zürich	Hönggerberg	1,000
FC Locarno	Locarno	Ticino	Stadio comunale Lido	5,000
FC Oerlikon/Polizei ZH[16]	Oerlikon (Zürich)	Zürich	Sportanlage Neudorf	1,000
FC Rapid Lugano[17]	Lugano	Ticino	Cornaredo Stadium	6,330
FC Red Star Zürich	Zürich	Zürich	Allmend Brunau	2,000
FC Solduno[18]	Locarno	Ticino	Campo Morettina / Stadio del Lido	1,000 / 5,000
FC St. Gallen	St. Gallen	St. Gallen	Espenmoos	11,000
FC Vaduz	Vaduz	Liechtenstein	Rheinpark Stadion	7,584
FC Wettingen	Wettingen	Aargau	Stadion Altenburg	10,000

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.^[8]

• 1961–62 Nationalliga A
• 1961–62 Nationalliga B
• 1961–62 Swiss Cup

• Switzerland 1961–62 at RSSSF